Canberra Glassworks
Canberra Glassworks
Canberra Glassworks is an ACT Arts Centre. It opened in 2007 in the heritage-listed Kingston Powerhouse.
The building contains state of the art workshops for all forms of creating studio glass, a gallery that presents an annual program of curated exhibitions of work by Australia’s finest glass artists, and a retail shop with an extensive range of beautiful handmade glass objects.
Break away from the ordinary and fire up your next school trip at Canberra Glassworks — the largest studio glassmaking facility in the Southern Hemisphere. Located within the heritage listed Kingston Powerhouse, this is the only school experience of its kind in Australia where students can get up close to an active glass factory and even try it for themselves.
Whether you’re planning a daytime visit or looking for a flexible, after-hours option on Thursday evenings, we’ll tailor the experience to your group.
General opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm
Bookings accepted for tours between Monday to Sunday, 9 am and 5 pm
Early evening classes available from 5 – 8 pm on Thursdays
Opening Hours
Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 4pm (Thursdays til 8pm for early evening classes)
Programs Available
Guided Facility Tour + Tile
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Canberra Glassworks, an internationally recognised glass making centre and host to hundreds of artists working with glass every year. Discover its history as the Kingston Powerhouse, an iconic building which played a vital role in the development of Australia’s planned capital city.
Learn from leading Australian glass artists in this hands-on tilemaking workshop. Each student will cut, design, and arrange their own glass composition, which will be kiln-formed into a unique glass tile. Tiles will be carefully packaged and posted back to your school after firing.
Program Information
- Delivery Type:
- In Canberra
- Year Levels:
- Year 3
- Year 4
- Year 5
- Year 6
- Secondary
- Tertiary
- Availability:
- Everyday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Thursday: 4:00 – 7:15 pm
Hotshop Demo + Tile
Uncover the science of glass blowing in this Hotshop demonstration. Students will have a firsthand look at the process of shaping molten glass using traditional tools and techniques.
Learn from leading Australian glass artists in this hands-on tilemaking workshop. Each student will cut, design, and arrange their own glass composition, which will be kiln-formed into a unique glass tile. Tiles will be carefully packaged and posted back to your school after firing.
Program Information
- Delivery Type:
- In Canberra
- Year Levels:
- Year 3
- Year 4
- Year 5
- Year 6
- Secondary
- Tertiary
- Availability:
- Wednesday – Sunday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Thursday: 4:00 – 7:15 pm
- Wednesday – Sunday: 12:30 – 3:00 pm
Hotshop Demo
Uncover the science of glass blowing in this Hotshop demonstration. Students will have a firsthand look at the process of shaping molten glass using traditional tools and techniques.
Program Information
- Delivery Type:
- In Canberra
- Year Levels:
- Preschool
- Kindergarten
- Primary
- Secondary
- Tertiary
- Availability:
- Wednesday – Sunday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Thursday: 4:00 – 7:15 pm
- Wednesday – Sunday: 12:30 – 3:00 pm
Tile Making Experience
Learn from leading Australian glass artists in this hands-on tilemaking workshop. Each student will cut, design, and arrange their own glass composition, which will be kiln-formed into a unique glass tile. Tiles will be carefully packaged and posted back to your school after firing.
Program Information
- Delivery Type:
- In Canberra
- Year Levels:
- Year 3
- Year 4
- Year 5
- Year 6
- Secondary
- Tertiary
- Availability:
- Everyday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Thursday: 4:00 – 7:15 pm
Guided Facility Tour
Discover where history and creativity meet. This guided tour invites students into the heart of Canberra Glassworks - Australia’s nationally acclaimed centre for glass art - housed within the landmark Kingston Powerhouse. As they explore the building’s industrial past and watch artists at work, students gain a deeper understanding of how craft, design, innovation, and heritage shape the stories of our city.
Please note that the Hotshop is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays while the glass furnace is reloaded. Tours are still welcome on these days, but groups should be aware that live glassblowing will not be taking place during this time.
Program Information
- Delivery Type:
- In Canberra
- Year Levels:
- Year 3
- Year 4
- Year 5
- Year 6
- Secondary
- Tertiary
- Availability:
- Everyday: 9:00 am – 4:45 pm
- Thursday: 4:00 – 7:15 pm