Canberra Glassworks facts for kids
Entrance to Canberra Glassworks
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| Formation | 31 December 2005 |
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| Type | Charity |
| Purpose | Glasswork |
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Chief executive
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Elizabeth Rogers |
The Canberra Glassworks is a special place in Canberra, Australia, where you can see amazing glass art. It's like a gallery and a workshop all in one! You can even watch talented artists create beautiful glass pieces right in front of you. It opened in May 2007 and is the biggest glass art studio in Australia.
Contents
History of the Glassworks
How it Started
The Canberra Glassworks has strong ties to the ANU School of Art Glass Workshop. A very important person named Klaus Moje, who started the ANU glass workshop, helped a lot to create the Glassworks.
In late 2005, Jon Stanhope, who was the Chief Minister of the ACT (like a premier for the Canberra area), announced the name "Canberra Glassworks." He wanted to show that Canberra could be famous for its studio glass art. The word "glassworks" also made it clear what kind of equipment and facilities were available there for artists and visitors.
The Old Powerhouse Building
The Glassworks is located in a historic building called the Kingston Powerhouse. This building was designed by John Smith Murdoch and built between 1913 and 1915. It's a very old and important landmark in Canberra.
The power station used to make electricity until 1957. It is actually Canberra's oldest public building! When they turned it into the Glassworks, they worked hard to keep the original building and its surroundings looking good. They also made sure the new facility was built in a way that was good for the environment. Creating the Glassworks and fixing up this old building was part of a bigger plan to improve the area around the lake near Kingston.
The Glassworks was supposed to open in September 2006. However, it officially opened a bit later, in May 2007, with Jon Stanhope doing the honors.
Creative Leadership
A talented glass artist named Clare Belfrage was the creative director of the Glassworks from 2009 to 2013. She helped guide the artistic direction of the center during that time.
About the Canberra Glassworks
Australia's Largest Glass Studio
The Canberra Glassworks is the biggest place in Australia specifically designed for glass art. It has lots of space and special equipment for artists to work with glass.
Current Leadership
Elizabeth Rogers became the new chief executive of the Glassworks in October 2021. Before joining the Glassworks, she had spent 15 years leading an organization called Regional Arts NSW.
Visiting the Glassworks
See Artists at Work
The studio has a special viewing area above the main "hotshop" where artists work with hot glass. There are also walkways that let visitors see all the different areas where glass is being made. It's a great way to watch the magic happen!
Learn and Create
The Glassworks offers courses for people who aren't professional artists, as well as for students and the general public. So, if you're interested in trying glass art, you might be able to take a class!
You can also ask artists working at the studio to create custom glass pieces for you. Plus, the Glassworks often has changing art displays that show off many different styles of glass art.
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