Canberra Glassworks celebrates first birthday

Thousands of people are expected to visit the Canberra Glassworks this weekend as it celebrates its first birthday.

Situated in the old Kingston Powerhouse in southern Canberra, the Canberra Glassworks is the only cultural facility in Australia completely devoted to contemporary glass.

The ACT Government set up the glassworks 12 months ago to provide artists with a state-of-the-art workplace and offer visitors a chance to learn more about glassmaking and the history of the Kingston Powerhouse.

Canberra Glassworks´ Donna Bush says there will be special tours and glass blowing demonstrations over the weekend.

"We´re looking at definitely over 3,000 visitors this weekend," she said.

"We´re certainly gearing up for a very exciting weekend with artists in every part of the facility working."

Ms Bush says Canberra is well known for its glasswork.

"Throughout the world, because of the ANU School of Art glass workshop, Canberra is known as a centre for glass. So if you go overseas to America or Scotland, even some places in Italy, people know Canberra not as the national capital but they know Canberra as a centre for glass," she said.

A new exhibition is also on display featuring work by educators from the four Australian universities offering degree courses in glass.

Pilot Light includes pieces by Gabriella Bisetto (University of SA), Andrew Lavery (Sydney University), Richard Whiteley (ANU) and Nick Wirdnam (formerly Monash University).

History preserved

The Kingston Powerhouse is Canberra´s oldest public building which opened in 1915 and supplied power to the city until 1957.

Ms Bush says converting the old powerhouse has helped keep its history alive.

"We´d like to think that Canberra Glassworks, as a new business turning one, is breathing new life into an old building. This was Canberra´s first source of electricity so we´re using the power for something different. So what was generating electricity for Canberra all those years ago is now producing amazing glass," she said.