The mission of Museum of Glass is to ignite creativity, fuel discovery, and enrich lives through glass and glassmaking.

Located in Tacoma, Washington, Museum of Glass is a premier contemporary art museum dedicated to glass and glassmaking in the West Coast’s largest and most active museum glass studio. The Museum has established a reputation for hosting impactful and engaging artist residencies, organizing and exhibiting nationally traveling exhibitions, and creating unique programs for visitors, all while building a growing permanent collection chronicling the development of modern and contemporary glass. 

Since opening in 2002, the Museum has served as a catalyst for change in Tacoma. The iconic building was erected on a Superfund site which started the restoration of the Thea Foss Waterway. Today, you will find a thriving arts and culture center, including six museums all within walking distance.

Museum of Glass is inherently a maker’s space. Our Hot Shop and Hot Shop Team — considered to be among the finest in the world — provide rare public access to glassmaking demonstrations, and host dozens of Visiting Artist Residencies annually, including students from the Hilltop Artists program, contributing to the development of individual artist careers and the global glass art community.

The Museum has also ignited the creativity of children through innovative programs such as Kids Design Glass, Science of Art, and Junior Curator Academy. Hot Shop Heroes, a glassmaking program for soldiers and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, has contributed to the healing of members of the U.S. military.

It’s rare to find a venue where you can watch live glassmaking, experience glass art from emerging artists as well as masters, and have the chance to try your hand at it. Museum of Glass prides itself on providing a transformative experience for our visitors and a sustained impact on our community.

Quick Facts

• Museum of Glass has displayed over 140 exhibitions since 2002, featuring glass art pioneers such as Dale Chihuly, Lino Tagliapietra, and Preston Singletary.

• Over 100,000 visitors explore the Museum each year.

• The Hot Shop hosts over 35 Visiting Artist Residencies each year.

• The Museum has engaged over 200,000 children through educational programs.

• 750 soldiers and veterans have been served through the Hot Shop Heroes program.

• Museum of Glass is a Top 10 tourist destination in Washington State - USA Today, 2017.

Museum of Glass is committed to a future where diverse identities are celebrated, and equitable and inclusive practices are of everything we do.

We will continue on this evolving journey as we have difficult conversations around the steps needed. The Museum is immediately dedicating internal resources to strengthen and expand our efforts. Through this ongoing process we will seek input, admit to mistakes, learn to better represent our communities, and expand access to the medium of glass.