Hot Glass offers a unique model in using art as a means of intervention with youth and Veterans. Teens are faced with a lack of positive activities for their age group. Many traditional teen activities like athletics foster an adversarial relationship as competition becomes more intense and some students are left off the team. Art provides an opportunity for teens to have success without having to compete for a spot on the team or losing a game. At Hot Glass, students are never refused service based on their past behavior, grades, disabilities, or artistic talent. All of the youth and Veteran programs are tuition-free to the student; these are funded through grants, schools, and corporate funds. The Hot Glass concept is designed to provide youth and Veterans with a life changing experience. In working with glass, students develop essential skills including teamwork, communication, planning and decision-making, as well as specific job related applications. Most importantly, students learn that they have the responsibility, and the power, to shape their own futures by participating in these unique Hot Glass programs.
Hot Glass offers a variety of classes, corporate team building events, seasonal events, and annual sales to supplement operating costs. Funding is also provided by way of private donations, corporate donations, and grants. All proceeds from these classes and events are used to fund our youth programs.
Hot Glass is a hands-on, non-profit organization dedicated to the instruction, presentation, interpretation, collection, documentation and preservation of the contemporary glass art movement with a special focus on team building for organizations. The goal is to become the premier center for the advancement of glass art for the Greater Quad City Region. This “one-of-a- kind” facility will provide people of all ages (but particularly our youth and Veterans) the opportunity to experience and enjoy glass art. Hot Glass’ primary focus is to connect all sectors of our community with diverse cultural and economic backgrounds and to improve life experiences through glass art.