Canberra Glassworks
Encyclopedia
Canberra Glassworks is an Australia
n gallery and glass art
studio open to the general public to view the glass artists working. Opened in May 2007 by Jon Stanhope
, it is the largest dedicated glass studio facility in Australia.
and constructed from 1913-1915. 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 was pivotal in establishing the centre. The current workshop head Richard Whiteley is also very involved with the centre and has work on display.
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
.
Glassworks also offers courses to non-practicing artists and members of the public, as well as students. There is also a volunteer program.
The studio also offers members of the general public to commission works through artists working at the studio.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n gallery and glass art
Glass art
Studio glass or glass sculpture is the modern use of glass as an artistic medium to produce sculptures or three-dimensional artworks. Specific approaches include working glass at room temperature cold working, stained glass, working glass in a torch flame , glass beadmaking, glass casting, glass...
studio open to the general public to view the glass artists working. Opened in May 2007 by Jon Stanhope
Jon Stanhope
Jonathan Ronald Stanhope 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 Assembly from 1998 until 2011. He resigned as Chief Minister on 12 May 2011 and as...
, it is the largest dedicated glass studio facility in Australia.
Planning and building
It is located in the Kingston Powerhouse which was designed by John Smith MurdochJohn Smith Murdoch
John Smith Murdoch was the chief architect for the Commonwealth of Australia from 1919, responsible for designing many government buildings, most notably the Provisional Parliament House in Canberra, the home of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988.-Personal Life:John Smith Murdoch was...
and constructed from 1913-1915. 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
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
' 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
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
School of Art Glass Workshop, whose founding workshop head Klaus Moje was pivotal in establishing the centre. The current workshop head Richard Whiteley is also very involved with the centre and has work on display.
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
Kingston, Australian Capital Territory
Kingston is the oldest and most densely populated suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The suburb is named after Charles Cameron Kingston, the former Premier of South Australia and minister in the first Australian Commonwealth Government. It is adjacent to the suburbs of...
.
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. There is also a volunteer program.
The studio also offers members of the general public to commission works through artists working at the studio.