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About SGAA
Our Mission 
Sonoran Glass Art Academy (SGAA) is a 501(c)(3), non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation and awareness of glass as a visual arts medium. Our mission is to enrich our community by providing a supportive environment in which glass artists, students, and enthusiasts can learn, create, and share knowledge. We aim to educate our greater community about glass making and glass art through classes, workshops, and community events.
Overview
Founded in 2001, SGAA has the unique position of being the premier public access glass arts educational facility in the southwest. Programming includes classes in: furnace glassblowing, lampworking, glass fusing, stained glass, mosaics, casting and coldworking. SGAA features a small team of gifted faculty instructors, as well as Specialty Workshops taught by a variety of world renowned visiting artists. Most classes at the Academy are limited to 8 students, allowing for maximum 1-1 attention. SGAA offers glass making instruction for people age 5 and up. We aim to increase our student's knowledge of glass as an arts medium, as well as to boost their confidence, creativity, and artistic capabilities. In partnership with the University of Arizona and Pima Community College, we offer college credits in glass arts. We also host a wide variety of elementary through high school youth development programs each year for underprivileged and at-risk youth.
Our facilities
SGAA is proud to be a fully equipped glass art educational facility, home to a Hot Shop, Flame Shop, Warm Shop, and a newly expanded Cold Shop. Our Hot Shop features a 400 pound Hub furnace, 3 glory holes of varying sizes, 3 large kilns, a clam shell kiln, a Paragon color box, and 2 work benches. Our Flame Shop is equipped with 8 Nortel major/minor burners, 3 Paragon kilns of varying sizes, plenty of hand tools, and an assortment of Borosilicate and Effetre glass. Our Warm Shop includes 2 large work tables along with additional outdoor workspace, 3 22" Paragon kilns, 2 large bathtub kilns, a variety of small AIMS "igloo" kilns, plenty of hand tools, and an assortment of fusible and non-fusible glass. Finally, our Cold Shop features an upright grinder, grinding lathe, bench grinder, 2 24" grinding wheels, 1 8" grinding wheel, wet saws, ring saws, large sandblaster, and small engraving tools. SGAA just expanded our Cold Shop and coldworking curriculum for 2011-2012!
What to Wear/Bring to Class
Every student at SGAA is required to wear closed toed shoes; no exceptions will be made and students will not receive a refund for classes! Please wear comfortable, cotton clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. Students should also tie long hair back and avoid wearing dangly jewelry or metals (watches). Bring a water bottle, sunglasses, and lunch or a snack. For full day classes or Specialty Workshops: please plan on bringing a sack lunch or students can order delivery. We do not pick up food during classes. If you have any other questions, please call our office at 520-884-7814.
Come for a Visit!
SGAA is open year round and we welcome visitors to our facilities to watch classes or browse our gallery. Our gallery is full of beautiful art glass gifts and sculptures made by faculty and students; all sales from our gallery support SGAA's mission of providing glass art education to the Southwest and beyond. If you would like to learn more about us or arrange a visit, please call 520-884-7814. Thank you for your interest in the Sonoran Glass Art Academy. We look forward to seeing you here!
 SGAA's new custom Stained Glass windows
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