A new centre hits the Australian glass scene on 25 May, 2007 with the opening of the Canberra Glassworks.

Built and funded by the ACT Government, it is the first centre in Australia devoted to contemporary glass practice. Although it seems to have popped up without much prior notice, the Canberra Glassworks is the result of over eleven years of work by Canberra based glass artists and others to establish a centre where professional glass artists can practice. The ACT Government came on board early, recognising the opportunity for the ACT to capitalise on the existing strength and international reputation of the Canberra glass community.

The Canberra Glassworks is an $11 million investment by the ACT Government which cleverly reuses an important piece of Canberra's industrial heritage, the old Kingston Powerhouse on the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin within walking distance of the National Gallery of Australia. The refit has retained the integrity of the building with much of its original purpose still evident in the interior fittings. At the same time its new purpose is handsomely accommodated in the large, cathedral-like spaces with the specialist fitout and equipment.

The new interior spaces include a large hotshop, kiln, cold working and lampworking facilities as well as studio spaces, a retail space, two small exhibiting galleries and a café. The work spaces have been designed in consultation with glass artists to ensure they are right for the use of professional practitioners while also catering for use by the general community. Canberra Glassworks team and volunteers have been on site since late last year supervising equipment layout and installation and building some of the more specialised equipment. Equipment in the work spaces include a 350kg tank furnace designed by Fred Metz, 4 glory holes and 4 benches in the hotshop, a vast array of different kilns, 8 torches in the flameworking area and a fully equipped coldworking shop. More detail of the equipment, technical specifications and hire/pricing structure can be found on the centre's website www.canberraglassworks.com

The Glassworks is committed to providing artists with opportunities to expand skills, develop income streams and explore new directions in practice in aspects of its program including production glass design and making, individual and collaborative projects, teaching and exhibiting opportunities.

The Glassworks education program is extensive and runs the full gamut from basic beginner classes to specialist, intensive master classes for professional glass artists. The professional stream of the education program will include four intensive workshops each year.

The first one, the forthcoming Winter Intensive is quite a coup for the Glassworks. Master glass artist extraordinaire, Klaus Moje will be the Glassworks first artist-in-residence during this period. It is a rare opportunity for glass artists to work alongside Moje who does not often find time to teach these days. The Winter Intensive will also include glass artists Jessica Loughlin, Deb Jones, Blanche Tilden and Tom Rowney as workshop leaders. Those interested in participating should contact the Glassworks for more details.

Moje has an ongoing connection to the Canberra Glassworks. As inaugural Head of the Glass Workshop at the Australian National University (ANU) School of Art, Klaus played a major role in establishing Canberra's global reputation as a centre of excellence in studio glass. He was involved in the development of the proposal, from the idea originally put forward by glass artist Lienors Torre (nee Allen), which caught the attention of the ACT Government and then as the expert consultant for much of the project. Klaus is now a member of the Board of Directors of the centre. He is joined on the Board of Directors by Professor David Williams, immediate past-Director of the ANU School of Art. Their membership of the Board underlines the Canberra Glassworks continuing close association with the ANU School of Art Glass Workshop. This close association is further underlined by the forthcoming 2008 AUSGLASS Conference that will be co-hosted by the Canberra Glassworks and the ANU School of Art Glass Workshop.

The AUSGLASS conference in 2008 is a chance to show the Glassworks to the Australian and international glass community. AUSLGASS is the Australian glass artists' professional membership body and the national conference is held biennially in different parts of Australia. It will be in Canberra next year and the Glassworks will host all the practical demonstrations and some of the workshops. Following the conference international guest artists will stay on to offer workshops. These artists include Katherine Grey and Roger Paramore from USA and Tsuyashi Inoue from Japan. Further information about the conference is available from the Glassworks or from AUSGLASS website.

The gala opening of the Canberra Glassworks takes place on Friday 25 May with the ACT Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope and the Glassworks' Chairman John Mackay presiding and that evening the Glassworks' gallery spaces will be opened. One of the two gallery spaces is evocatively housed in the base of the old powerhouse smokestack. The Glassworks has plans for the exterior of the old smokestack with the replacement of the now demolished chimney with a tower of glass and light to celebrate the old and new uses of the building.

The Glassworks' first exhibition, Heartland: imagination, creation, innovation is guest-curated by Barbara McConchie, Executive Director of Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre. It celebrates Canberra as a centre for studio glass and acknowledges the amazing contribution that has emerged from the ANU School of Art Glass Workshops over the past 21 years.

A regular program of exhibitions of studio glass will be presented in the Glassworks' gallery spaces. The second exhibition will be the prestigious 2007 Ranamok Glass Prize. Following this, plans are already afoot for the first Limited Lines show of high-end production work for Christmas giving and the exhibitions which will accompany the AUSGLASS conference in Canberra in January, 2008.

As well as viewing the exhibitions, visitors to the Canberra Glassworks can find out what studio glass is all about by taking a self-guided or guided tour, and at the same time learn of the building's heritage. The refit of the building includes an inspection mezzanine that runs around the walls of the two main interior spaces. This mezzanine walk enables visitors to tour the building at any time. They can watch whatever activities are taking place in the Glassworks whilst remaining at a safe distance from the actual work areas. In the hotshop the inspection mezzanine also includes a tiered-seating observation area that enables visitors to sit in comfort to watch the glass blowing process.

"There are synergies between the old and new purposes of the building" says Ann Jakle. "Instead of burning 'black' coal to create power as electricity for the Canberra region, we're melting 'clear' glass to generate a different form of power in the creation of art glass that will resonate locally, nationally and internationally."

Ann Jakle is the Canberra Glassworks' Director. She comes to the position with a working knowledge of the international glass scene having previously been Studio Manager for glass artist and partner Richard Whiteley. She also has a background in design retailing and marketing and has recently returned from a research tour of glass facilities in North America. Ann is enjoying the challenge of establishing the new centre in Canberra with its strong commitment to foster innovation and sustainability in glass making.

Ann is joined on staff by Kirstie Rea as Creative Director. Kirstie is a glass artist and teacher with a particular connection to Canberra as a long-time resident and as both a graduate and teacher of the Glass Workshop of the ANU School of Art. Kirstie is well known to the Australian glass community, having regularly exhibited and taught in Australia, Europe and the US since the 1980s and having been active on AUSGLASS and Glass Art Society committees.

Other team members include glass artists Tom Rowney, Aaron Robinson, Trish Roan and a number of volunteer workers from the Canberra glass community.

While the official opening takes place on 25 May, the Glassworks had an open day in March that gave the general public the opportunity to book site tours to inspect the progress to date on the conversion and the restoration work on the heritage aspects of the building. Around 800 people took the opportunity to participate in the tours. The Glassworks personnel were delighted by the response from the Canberra community to the open day and the enthusiasm and interest shown by visitors in the exciting, new role of the old Kingston Powerhouse.

"The general public are very important to us," says Kirstie Rea. "It is important for the Canberra community to feel ownership of Canberra Glassworks and that people feel comfortable and excited about visiting and participating in our programs." People can visit anytime, bring their own visitors to the Glassworks, participate in a class, buy a piece of glass or make a piece of their own, see exhibitions, watch demonstrations, attend lectures, or even get involved as a volunteer.

Craft Australia extends its congratulations to the Canberra Glassworks. It is an asset not just for Canberra but for the Australian glass community. Come to Canberra and see for yourself. For those interested in finding out more about the Glassworks forthcoming programs contact the Canberra Glassworks.

Jenny Deves
April, 2007

Jenny Deves is currently the Research Officer at Craft Australia and freelance writer. Jenny has a background in arts management and is a past Executive Director of Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre.