Who is BAGI?
As a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, BAGI is funded in part by the City of San Jose’s Office of Cultural Affairs. We educate the public about art glass by teaching a variety of glass-working classes, offering free public demonstrations, and bringing in international and locally renowned guest artists to conduct free demonstrations and lectures. BAGI cosponsors the Great Glass Pumpkin Patch®. BAGI’s goal is to continue expanding its education and program offerings to artists and the general public.
Since 1996, BAGI has been a central part of San Jose’s arts ecosystem, engaging a diverse audience through hands-on glassmaking experiences, educational programs, and community partnerships. Located next to History Park San Jose, the organization brings visibility and access to a centuries-old art form for youth, families, artists, and corporate groups.
2025 Impact Report
Programs:
BAGI’s on-site programs demonstrate strong participation and demand. Our classes served 4,450 participants and generated $498,831 in revenue. Corporate and private events engaged 4,015 participants and contributed $475,000. Studio rentals by glass artists accounted for 6,548 hours (46% of use), booked by 201 regular renters across 2,142 reservations. Additional outreach includes scholarships, programming designed for veterans, and our recently developed Mobile Fuse program serving Title I schools.
Digital Engagement:
BAGI maintains an active digital presence to expand access and connection. Its newsletter reaches 16,438 subscribers. Social media reach totaled 846,076 across Facebook and Instagram, and our website attracted 133,368 visitors, generated 75,530 click-throughs, and maintained a 24% returning visitor rate.
Community Events:
Through three major sales events and participation in sixteen City of San Jose events, BAGI brought live glassmaking demonstrations into the community. In 2025, these efforts reached approximately 129,000 people through school programs, festivals, and events. These activities generated over $400,000 in revenue for BAGI and participating artists, with $261,671 distributed directly to artists, supporting the local creative economy.
Core Values
Principles that describe how we approach our mission
Accessible
Provides programs for anyone who wants to participate, regardless of skill level or resource level.
Diverse & Inclusive
Building a culture at BAGI where we proactively ensure all people are welcome.
Fiscally Responsible
Financially stable to support the people, programs, and facilities we need to continue our mission.
Environmentally Sustainable
Conscious and attentive to minimizing our carbon footprint and impact as a glass studio.
History
The Bay Area Glass Institute, affectionately known as BAGI, was founded by four San Jose State University (SJSU) students in 1996: Mike Binnard, Bobby Bowes, Mariko Takada, and Jonathan Tepperman. No longer students at SJSU, the founders of BAGI needed a hot shop to work in. The first BAGI hot shop was located in Bobby Bowes’ backyard/garage. It was the founders’ collective idea to create a glassblowing studio that they could rent out as well as to serve as a gathering place for fellow glass artists.
Why create a glass art institute? In addition to being an affordable work space for local glass blowers, fusers, and torch workers, it’s also a public education facility. The goal is to provide a way for the public to become familiar with fine art glass and the processes used to make it. In addition, BAGI supports established local artists as well as beginning level students in their efforts to further their glass-working careers and/or journeys.