Canberra Glassworks is an Australian gallery in Canberra and glass art studio open to the general public to view the glass artists working. Opened in May 2007 by

Jon Stanhope Jonathan Donald Stanhope (born 29 April 1951) is a former Australian politician who was Labor Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 2001 to 2011. Stanhope represented the Ginninderra electorate in the ACT Legislative Assemb ...

, it is the largest dedicated glass studio facility in Australia.

Planning and building

It is located in the

Kingston Powerhouse The Kingston Powerhouse is a disused power plant in Canberra, the capital of Australia. It is located in the suburb of Kingston, Australian Capital Territory. It was designed by John Smith Murdoch and constructed from 1913-1915, when the planne ...

which was designed by

John Smith Murdoch John Smith Murdoch (29 September 186221 May 1945) was a Scottish architect who practised in Australia from the 1880s until 1930. Employed by the newly formed Commonwealth Public Works Department in 1904, he rose to become chief architect, ...

, constructed from 1913-1915, and is a historical landmark. The power station generated electricity until 1957 and is Canberra's oldest public building. Particular effort was made to preserve the original building and surroundings where possible, and was developed within a framework of Ecologically Sustainable Design (ESD). artsACT and Jon Stanhope, Canberran Chief Minister and Minister for the Arts announced the name of the centre in late 2005, specifically to highlight ' Canberra' as a being potentially well reputed both nationally and internationally for studio glass and the term 'glassworks' to be clear about what equipment and facilities where available at the centre to artists as well as to the general public. The centre is strongly linked with the ANU School of Art Glass Workshop, whose founding workshop head

Klaus Moje Klaus Moje (5 October 1936 – 24 September 2016) was a German born, Australian glass artist and educator. Moje was the founding workshop head of the Australian National University (ANU) School of Art Glass Workshop in Canberra, Australia. ...

was pivotal in establishing the centre. The centre was originally scheduled to be opened in September 2006, but was opened in May 2007. The creation of Glassworks and renovation of this building is part of the redevelopment of the lake foreshore surrounding Kingston.

Public outreach

The studio contains a public viewing gallery above the main hotshop areas as well as public access walkways around all glass working areas. Glassworks also offers courses to non-practicing artists and members of the public, as well as students. The studio also offers members of the general public to commission works through artists working at the studio. In addition there are rotating art displays featuring multiple different styles of glassworking.

Photos

Notes

External links

Glassworks at artsACT website

ANU Glass Australia Database
{{Canberra landmarks Museums in Canberra Art museums and galleries in Australia 2007 establishments in Australia Art galleries established in 2007 Glass museums and galleries