Field Trips

School Field Trips to a Chicago Glassblowing & Ceramics Studio

Give your students an experience they'll talk about for years. Firebird Community Arts welcomes school and youth groups to our professional studio in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood for hands-on field trips in glassblowing, ceramics, and more. We believe art is a tool for healing and connection — and field trips are one of the most powerful ways for young people to experience that firsthand.

  • Group of people participating in a pottery class, working on clay wheels in a workshop
  • Three children, two boys and a girl, are gathered around a pottery wheel in a casual setting, engaging in conversation and sharing a joyful moment.
  • A glassblower is shaping molten glass using a blowpipe while a woman observes closely. They are working in a workshop with tools and safety equipment.
  • A person wearing glasses, a black beanie, and a black shirt is seated at a workbench with glassblowing tools, shaping molten glass into a shaped object, with other people and equipment visible in the background.
  • A boy with short curly black hair making a pottery project, with clay on his hands, while others observe.

The Student Experience

Field trips take place at our studio at 2651 W. Lake St. and are designed for students aged 10 and up. Depending on your group's interests and the time available, participants can choose from a range of activities:

  • Glassblowing (ages 10 and up) — work at a live hot shop bench with a teaching artist

  • Glass torchwork — create detailed glass pieces using a flameworking torch

  • Glass fusing — design and fuse glass in a kiln

  • Ceramic wheel throwing — experience the meditative practice of throwing on a potter's wheel

  • Ceramic handbuilding — sculpt and build by hand, no wheel required

We can host groups of up to 40 students. Our facility includes eight potter's wheels, a handbuilding station, four torch stations, and four hot shop benches — including adaptive setups for participants with disabilities.

Can't Make It to Our Studio?

We can bring select activities to your school or facility. Ceramic handbuilding, glass fusing, and screen printing on glass are all available as off-site programs. Note that glassblowing, torchwork, and wheel throwing require our studio and cannot be offered off-site.

Pricing & Booking

Field trip pricing starts at $35 per student and varies based on group size, length of visit, and activities chosen. A sliding scale is available for schools and groups that need it — cost should never be a barrier to access.

To get a quote or check availability, email bookings@firebirdcommunityarts.org with the following:

  • Number of students (and chaperones)

  • Ages of participants

  • Your school or organization name

  • Preferred dates and times

  • Activities you're interested in

  • Any accessibility needs or accommodations

We recommend booking at least two weeks in advance.