Ever fancied glass blowing? Making your own glass ornament under the guidance of a professional is not just fun, its an authentic experience, where you take away your completed piece of art as well as fabulous memories. The Corning Museum of Glass is an institution, and the world's largest glass museum, with 3,500 years' worth of glass artifacts on display.

Glass is both a challenging and magical medium for artistic expression. Making glass requires years of dedicated practice, the intense heat of the hot shop creates a dramatic working environment—and yet the possibilities of this material are seemingly endless. The dichotomy between the fragile nature of glass and the big, bold ideas being generated in it is one that’s explored in the Contemporary Art + Design Galleries of The Corning Museum of Glass, located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.

The galleries are full of rich and amazing artistry from across time and place. From Lalique to Tiffany, these masterpieces represent some of the finest examples of glass anywhere in the world. Be dazzled by the work of the Venetian maestros, the Roman glassblowers, and the Crystal City’s own glass cutters. A series of galleries, each has its own medium, but all celebrating the captivating beauty of glass, with pieces from Ancient Egpyt to modern-day contemporary creations.

As spell-binding as it is, this isn’t simply a museum. The glass blowers bring the art to life. There’s an incredible team of artists who shape molten glass into both functional and whimsical objects before your eyes during the Hot Glass Demonstrations. Watch as they twist and shape molten glass into intricate and fanciful objects.

Want to try? From hot glassworking to fusing, engraving and sandblasting, you can do just about anything with glass—with the help of the experienced glassworkers. Whether an amateur or an experienced artist, there are glass blowing experiences for everyone:

Hot Glass Working Experience – This standard experience lasts approximately 15 minutes. Participants select their project shape and color, then work with experienced glassmakers using The Studio’s alternate air inflation device to inflate the molten glass by use of a foot pedal.

In-Depth Glassblowing – Ready to try glassblowing for yourself? In this hands-on, hour-long immersive experience, you’ll work directly with an experienced glassmaker to gather from the furnace, add color, and shape the glass.

Enhanced Glassblowing – Dive deeper on an Enhanced Glassblowing project. Work with a professional to learn how to inflate glass and use glassmaking tools to create your own vase, paperweight, or cup.

The Corning Museum of Glass is open year-round, seven days a week, and offers something for all ages and interests. Click here to find out about booking your visit.

For more information on the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, where to stay and what other activities there are to enjoy, please click here.