National Open Studios at UrbanGlass

UrbanGlass will open its doors for National Craft Open Studios Weekend with a day of live demonstrations and hands-on experiences celebrating handmade craft. On Saturday, July 18 from 11–3, visitors are invited into the studio to see how molten glass is transformed into wearable objects, with demos and activities that highlight the skill and process behind everyday adornment.

Visitors can take part in 45-minute beadmaking sessions in the flame shop (ages 14+), offering an introduction to shaping glass in the flame. Ongoing demonstrations throughout the day will show the full process, from raw material to finished bead, alongside a pop-up market featuring handmade work by artists from The Bead Project.

The event also spotlights The Bead Project, a program that provides women, femmes, and gender non-conforming individuals with training in glass beadmaking, design, and small business skills. Participating artists will demonstrate their process and share their work, offering visitors a chance to connect directly with the makers and support their practice.

National Craft Open Studios Weekend is presented by the American Craft Council and launches as part of Craft in America’s Handwork 2026 initiative.

Introduction to the Bead Project:

The Bead Project is a unique scholarship program designed for economically disadvantaged women, femmes, and gender non-conforming individuals in New York City to learn the art of glass beadmaking while gaining an education in entrepreneurship. Over 10 weeks, scholarship recipients take part in both studio and classroom coursework where they develop skills in a variety of glass bead techniques, jewelry fabrication and design, product marketing, and practical strategies for launching a successful small business. Each semester, the Bead Project provides 12 participants with the time, tools, and support needed to pursue their creative ambitions and form actionable plans to turn a unique artform into a viable source of supplementary income. Along this creative journey, students form a community of peers with classmates, other Bead Project alumni, and UrbanGlass staff and artists that lasts far beyond the 10 week program.

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