The Canberra Glassworks opened 26 May 2007 in the old Canberra Power Station at Kingston, next to the Bus Depot Markets. I had a quick visit 2 June. The facility is very new and is yet to be fully occupied by artisans, but already is worth a visit.
Highlight of a visit to the Glassworks are demonstrations of glassblowing in the "Hotshop". Visitors sit above, looking down on the workshop floor. Glass workers extract molten glass from the furnace and shape it while giving a running commentary. While I was there an audience member asked how a particular effect they saw in the gift shop was done. So the artist got out another glob of glass and shaped it, as we watched.
There is a gallery of glass works, as well as a gift shop and cafe. The glassworks has a brochure for a self-guided tour, as well as a guided tour. There are courses starting with an "off the street" one for $25 where you make a glass object to take home.
See also books about: Australian Glassworking, Canberra.
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