FAQs

Pilchuck is a unique artist-centered community, deliberately removed from the hustle and bustle of modern living. The innovation, risk-taking, and magic that occur at Pilchuck happen because we are able to keep the everyday world at bay. Pilchuck opens its doors to the public during its annual Spring Tours, during which over one thousand people visit the campus to observe demonstrations by our Artists@Work and tour Pilchuck studios.

Generous individuals provide annual support for all of Pilchuck Glass School’s artistic and educational programs through the Annual Fund, the Leadership Circle, and the Legacy Society. For more information about making an annual gift to Pilchuck Glass School, please visit Support Pilchuck. Tax-deductible donations support Pilchuck's educational programs, scholarships, and artist residencies that create transformative and impactful experiences for thousands of individuals each year.

Pilchuck opens its doors to cultural, civic, and social groups for one week each spring prior to the beginning of the summer session. During this week, volunteer artists are busy preparing works in glass for our auction and artists-in-residence are on campus creating their unique works of art in glass. Groups ranging in size from ten to 45 people may arrange for a Spring Tour that includes a guided tour of the campus, an opportunity to observe artists at work, lunch in our lodge and the chance to learn more about the past and future of one of the Pacific Northwest’s cultural icons. Space is limited; therefore advance reservations are required. Visit the Events section for more information.

Our mission is to foster experimentation and exploration. Therefore much of the work made during courses and residencies is not intended as final, complete or for exhibition. That said, often you will see work that has evolved out of what has been learned at Pilchuck in exhibitions and galleries throughout the world as well as in our Annual Auction & Gala. If you are interested in purchasing glass made by artists associated with Pilchuck, we recommend attending in person, or viewing on line, work donated to Pilchuck's Annual Auction & Gala. Held in mid-October of each year, the Auction is a gala featuring over 150 works of art by established and emerging glass artists from around the world. The Pilchuck Seattle Exhibition Space, located in Pioneer Square and open Monday - Friday, also features works for sale by artists affiliated with Pilchuck Glass School.

Pilchuck Glass School offers residency programs for emerging and professional artists each fall and spring.

Undergraduate college credit for work completed at Pilchuck may be obtained through the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington. Arrangements to receive credit are made prior to beginning your course at Pilchuck. For further information, contact the registrar for Cornish College of the Arts at 206.323.1400. Also, students often work with their department heads or advisors to receive independent study credit at the college or university they are attending.

Pilchuck offers a series of sessions from May through August that vary in length. Each session is comprised of four to six concurrent courses in a variety of processes. Generally, each course is limited to 10 - 12 students. Because the courses run concurrently all day, six days each week, students enroll in one course per session. Courses vary from session to session and from summer to summer, depending upon instructor availability and programming goals. In addition to hot glass courses, Pilchuck’s offerings include hot casting, kiln casting,sandcasting, pâte de verre, mosaic, stained glass, flameworking, neon, and more.

Pilchuck Glass School is an internationally recognized leader in glass art education offering intensive residential instruction during the summer months and workshops throughout the year. The course catalog describes course content, level of experience required, and application requirements. Pilchuck’s courses cover a range of skill levels from introductory to advanced.

To participate in Pilchuck courses, you can submit an application and then enroll once you have been accepted. See the 'How to Apply' section related to each program.

Pilchuck Glass School is a non-profit organization overseen by a Board of Trustees. No one owns the school, but many people contribute to its function through participating as volunteers, paid staff, teachers, students, artists-in-residence, and through work exchange.

Pilchuck means “red river” in Chinook jargon; a trade language used widely throughout the Pacific Northwest region during the 19th century. The school was named after John Hauberg’s Pilchuck Tree Farm where the campus is located. The tree farm was named for the nearby river that originates in the Cascade Mountains and flows into the Puget Sound. The river has substantial iron deposits that cause the banks to turn red.

The school is located about 50 miles and one hour driving time north of Seattle overlooking Puget Sound in the high foothills of the Cascade Mountains. The campus is situated in the midst of a stunning 15,000-acre tree farm on a 50-acre site of grassy fields, mature evergreen forests, strolling and hiking trails, streams and a pond. The locale includes well-equipped studios, comfortable rustic cabins and dorm for housing, a lodge for meals as well as an administrative office and gallery and out-buildings used to maintain the campus.

Please visit the Application information page for all information related to applying for workshops.

‍

Pilchuck's operating budget is generated more or less equally from student fees for programs, annual contributions, and the annual auction. A small portion of the budget is supported by a modest and growing endowment. Please consider supporting us by making a contribution.