Donations

We are now out of our Taylor Street Facility.
BAGI has moved into an interim facility at History San Jose and is working
on building a permanent facility at the park.
> List of donors
Construction plan updated May 19, 2016
Why support BAGI?
The Bay Area Glass Institute is an affordable workspace for local glass blowers, fusers and torch workers, and a public education resource. Our goal is to provide a way for the public to become familiar with fine art glass and the processes used in its creation. BAGI supports established local, and global artists, including beginning-level students enabling their efforts to further their glass working careers and journeys.
Our Plan
Construction of the new facility is being done in three phases.

Phase 1
Construct an interim facility — complete.

Phase 2
Build-out 2/3 of permanent building, bringing capacity back to same as at Taylor Street.

Phase 3
Complete permanent building by adding office, gift shop, gallery, new bathrooms, double capacity.

You can find preset donation amounts and stock donations lower on the page!
Move Cost & Time Lines
$50k   Phase 1 (completed)
$600k Phase 2 (ready to start)
$230k Phase 3
[See floorplan below]

Still have questions? Read the FAQs and move requirements at the bottom of the page. Or download them.

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> Move Campaign Brochure
(Dollar amounts not updated to present costs)
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> Move FAQs Document
(Dollar amounts not updated to present costs)
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> Move Requirements Document
Your 100% tax-deductible gift is a wonderful way to honor or memorialize someone. Your employer might provide a matching gift to the contributions you make to BAGI. Check with your employer and you might be able to double your donation. BAGI is also able to accept gifts of appreciated stock.
Contributions of $1,000 or more will be acknowledged on our donor wall and attest to your support of BAGI.
BAGI TAX ID: 77-0444349.

For your generous donation, we will include the following thank you items.
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*Hot Shop and Studio naming rights good for 10 years.

$250

$500

$1,000

$2,500

$5,000

$10,000

$25,000

$50,000

You decide the amount.


Securities. You decide the amount.
Move Cost & Time Lines
$50k   Phase 1 (completed)
$365k Phase 2
$230k Phase 3
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BAGI Move FAQs
Why is BAGI moving?
After 15 years at the same location in Japantown, the land is being redeveloped into apartments.

Where are we moving?
  • We wish to stay within San Jose.
  • Prefer industrial area of SJ. (Central to North).
  • We are a significant part of SJ arts community.
  • City of SJ gives us a supportive grant.
  • We are connected to San Jose State glass program.

When will BAGI need to move?

  • Closing escrow by the new owners of our existing building is planned for Jan 2016.

What will the move budget include?
  • 
We will be upgrading equipment.
  • Changing to a more efficient furnace.
  • Upgrade facility (electrical, gas, ventilation, plumbing).
  • Expanded square footage to add new programs, sublet space to artists for their own studios.

Is there a need for BAGI in the community?

  • There is no other public-access glass facility in the South Bay with educational programs for students, artists, and the general public.

How many people does BAGI serve?
  • 15,000 people directly in touch with hand made art annually.
  • 5,000 people visit our Great Glass Pumpkin Patch each year.
  • 1,000 employees participate in corporate events annually.
  • 500 people take classes each year.
  • 30 Glass artists blow glass regularly in our facilities.
  • We provide a facility for corporations to offer team-building events centered on the glass arts.
  • We offer introductory discovery courses that expand the public’s knowledge of the glass arts.
  • We also offer more in-depth classes for those who want to increase their knowledge of the glass arts.
  • We offer a space for artists to work.

How many more people will BAGI be able to serve?

  • Currently we can serve 40 people in a corporate event. We want to expand to 75.
  • Currently we have two benches in hot shop and wish to expand to four.

Is BAGI considering expanding their offerings?
  • 
We currently offer hot shop, flameworking, cold work, and fusing.
  • We wish to offer new glass art offerings; casting and stained glass.

What did BAGI do for GAS Con. 2015 (Glass Art Society Conference)
?
  • We will be offering workshops for artists.
  • Hosting the hotshop, flameworking, and Glass Olympics.

How does BAGI spend its money?

  • We sustain operations solely through our program revenue.
  • Your donation at this time goes toward the one-time expense of moving BAGI to a new site.
  • The current economic growth in the South Bay has created this need to move.
Why doesn’t BAGI know yet where they will be moving?

  • We do not want to rent the new facility too early, which will require us to cover two rents for a prolonged period.
  • We are looking at properties now.

What happens if BAGI doesn’t raise the money?

  • We will go dark for a period, continue to look for a location, and consider scaling back services when we reopen.
  • Shut down for good.

I thought BAGI was closing last year.

  • True.
  • The expansion of corporate events has offered us the opportunity to expand our artistic programs and stabilize our financial budget.
  • We now have money in the bank, and have been running cash flow positive for the last year.
  • We have created ongoing operational financial stability.

Why is the move so expensive? Why will it cost that much?
(Dollar amounts reflecting new phased construction approach. March 9, 2016)
Phase 1
$50k - Completed

Phase 2
$380k

Phase 3
$230k
(Dollar amounts not updated to reflect new phased construction approach.)
Equipment    $0
Construction Services   $378,893
    Plumbing
    HVAC
    Electrical
    Carpentry
    Plumbing
Architect   $71,500
Permits    $6,222
    Fees & permits
Move   $16,100
    Professional movers for large equipment
    First/last deposit
    Marketing & advertising
    Contingency fund
Dual Occupancy   $9,350
    Overlap rent


Which corporations have been in for events recently?

Apple, Adobe, Applied Materials, Broadcom, Check Point Software, Cisco, Financial Engines, Genomic Health, Facebook, Gilead Sciences, GoDaddy, Google, Intuit, 
Kaboodle, PKMG, LinkedIn, Map Pharmaceuticals, MegaPath, Plantir, PayPal, Symantec, Silicon Valley Bank, Stanford, YAHOO.

How is BAGI involved in the glass arts community?

We will be hosting the international conference of the Glass Art Society in June.
BAGI founded the Great Glass Pumpkin Patch®, which is on its 20th year at the Palo Alto Art Center.

Why we stopped the glass auction.?
Our last Auction was in March 2012 ... the net revenue was half of what it had been the previous year ($50k vs $100k+). The number of patrons that were buying was getting smaller and the artists were having a hard time donating work coming out of the recession.
General Requirements for New Location
1) 5000 to 6000 square feet of space, the exact amount of space is dependent upon the total rent.
2) Office area of about 800-1000 square feet, two offices, meeting room and gallery space.
3) Total Rent; as affordable as possible
4) Single floor, storage can be on the a 2nd floor but not ideal.
5) High ceilings:
  • For hot shop, 16 foot is ideal.
  • For fusing/flamework, 10 foot is probably minimum.6) Combined men's/women's bathroom.
(Ideally we would have separate bathrooms.)
7) Space outside of building for 10x20 equipment pad to hold, Propane, Oxygen, compressor.
8) 15 parking spaces dedicated to us on site, with additional overflow on the street.
9) 400A 120/240V 3 phase electrical service.
10) Natural Gas service.
11) Large roll up door to move equipment in and out of shop and for ventilation.
12) Natural light (like skylights) would be a nice extra.
13) AC/Heat in the office area, no air exchange with shops.
14) Location:
  • In San Jose, so we can keep our grant money.
  • Preferably near downtown, not at the extreme north east or south sides of SJ.
  • We would love to be in the museum district or SOFA area.
  • Easy freeway access, not down at the end of Almaden Valley.
  • We need to consider commute traffic to avoid congested areas.
15) Unique Building Character would be nice.
  • Old brick building would be great.
  • Another old cannery or factory type building with great with the vaulted ceilings with windows would be cool.
16) Concrete walls and floors (flame resistance) in hot shop are nice feature and will eliminate the need to fireproofing.
17) Floor drains in hot shop, cold working would be a nice feature.
18) Kitchen area, for fridge/sink/microwave would be a nice feature.
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You shop. Amazon gives.
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to BAGI whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. This is the same Amazon you know and love. Same products, same prices.
Just go to www.smile.amazon.com and select “BAGI” as your charitable organization.