glassblowing and ceramics instruction for Chicago Teens

FireWork

About Firework

FireWork is our teen program, offering year-round glassblowing and ceramics instruction for Chicago Public High School students participating in After School Matters.

Like all Firebird programs, FireWork begins and ends with structured check-ins that build positive relationships among peers and trusted adults. The program focuses on artistic skill development and creative exploration, while participants receive mentorship, wraparound resources, and trauma-informed support when needed.

FireWork operates in three 11-week sessions each year, with students participating 9–16 hours per week. Youth also receive a small stipend in recognition of their time and commitment.

  • A woman in safety glasses and a hoodie watching glass blowing in a workshop with industrial equipment and a large furnace.
  • People participating in a pottery class, shaping clay on pottery wheels in a studio.
  • Group of four students working with a glowing neon star sign and electronic equipment on a table in a workshop.
  • A group of people are participating in a woodworking or craft workshop inside a room with black walls decorated with neon signs and a neon horse head. They are working at long work tables with tools and materials, some using saws and carving tools.

MEET OUR PROGRAM PARTNER

Text reading 'AFTER SCHOOL matters' on a black background.

After School Matters is a nonprofit organization that supports up to 19,000 teens across Chicago each year with paid opportunities to develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college, and beyond. Our programs introduce young people to new ideas, places, and people and encourage them to explore their interests as they learn about who they are and who they want to become.

A group of diverse young people posing together indoors, some holding small items, with neon and LED lights on a dark wall behind them.

FIREWORK AT LIGHTWRITERS NEON

Interested in signing up for FireWork?

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If you’re a teen interested in signing up for Firework, you can learn more and apply at the link.

Sign Up for FireWork