Water Street Glassworks (WSG) is excited to launch a new Visiting Artist Program, expanding its commitment to accessible arts education and community engagement. Through this initiative, WSG will invite nationally and regionally recognized artists to lead workshops, present public demonstrations and artist talks, and engage directly with students and the broader community. Visiting artists—recognized leaders in the field, including past contestants from Blown Away—will work alongside our under-served, teen Fired Up! students as well as adult and emerging artists, offering mentorship, technical instruction, and insight into professional artistic practice.

This program creates opportunities for Fired Up! students to gain exposure to new artistic voices and career pathways, while allowing students of all ages and experience levels to deepen their technical and creative skills. Community members will also have the opportunity to experience the energy and accessibility of the fire arts firsthand through public demonstrations and events. Your sponsorship helps strengthen arts education, foster meaningful connections, and support a vibrant creative community in Benton Harbor and beyond.

As part of this initiative, WSG will introduce Behind the Glass: Community Demo Nights, a monthly series of live demonstrations and informal artist talks that bring the public into the studio for an up-close look at the creative process. These evenings will feature artists working across a range of techniques, including glassblowing, flameworking, glass casting, and fusing—offering visitors the opportunity to experience the process firsthand, ask questions, and connect with the artists behind the work.