CORNING, NY (WENY) -- 'The Studio' at the Corning Museum of Glass has been a part of the museum for many years, and now it's expanding. The Wendell Weeks & Kim Frock Residency Center opened in December 2023 and is gearing up to take on new artists. 

"Each Studio can house one or two artists. In the middle of the space is a lounge where artists can relax, share ideas, communicate with each other, and other artists in the community. It's a space with seven studios," said Director of The Studio, Amy Schwartz.

Schwartz said CMOG is a national and even international hub for artists and students interested in glassmaking. The Museum has a residency program, but artists and students have only been able to come for a couple of months a year. 

"With this new Residency Center, we'll be able to host resident artists all year long for varying lengths of time. Our artists come from all over the world. We have a dozen residents coming from places as far away as Turkey, or as close as Corning, New York. Their job is to further their art practice and integrate with our community. [They can] talk to a school group or maybe a college [that has] a glass program...This is a program that advocates for artists and helps develop artists," said Schwartz.

To help bring in and keep the artists in the area longer, there's a new Glassmaking Institute in the Residency Center. The Glassmaking Institute will be a two-year program.

"It's not going to be a degree program, it's a certificate program. When you complete it, you'll get a certificate from the Corning Museum of Glass. It aims to engage people who want to learn [about] glass and help make the next generation of great glass artists," said Schwartz.

One artist who teaches a class at the Museum said she got into glassmaking after taking classes in college. She said she's enjoyed her time at CMOG and is excited to apply for a residency program.

"I haven't applied for residency yet because I've been busy with my career and teaching, but now that they're offering more space for artists and opportunities, I'm excited to apply," said Sibelle Yuksek.

The Glassmaking Institute will start in September 2025. The application will open on July 1st, 2024, and close on November 1st, 2024.

"Students will be able to get immersed in glassblowing, flameworking, kiln casting,...It'll be a great program for [people who just graduated] college or they retired and want to focus on [the] glass to become [the] glass artist they wanted to be," said Schwartz.

The Wendell Weeks & Kim Frock Residency Center at the Corning Museum of Glass was made possible by the state, donors, and Wendell Weeks and Kim Frock.