This course introduces students to fundamental skills for working with glass in a contemporary art and design context.
Students will learn methods for shaping glass in response to set projects. The course introduces ways of transforming glass through heating, cutting and constructing, as well as strategies to explore and realise creative works through craft production techniques. Students will learn the contextual underpinnings for glass in contemporary practice through lectures, seminar discussions, and their own research. The course explores possibilities for the medium in broader visual arts and design contexts while offering a foundation for a professional glass practice. Work health and safety (WHS) instruction is integrated throughout the course.
Students may complete this course up to three times for a maximum credit value of 18 units, provided they enrol in a different topic in each instance/semester. Please note that the course content, assessment structure, and reading list will change depending on the topic and the expertise of the lecturer convening the course. Please refer to the class summary for the specific term in which you wish to enrol for a detailed description.
Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Introduction to Glassblowing
This course introduces students to fundamental skills and contextual knowledge for working with molten glass. Students will learn to manipulate and transform hot glass in response to set projects across glassblowing and cold working. They will also develop knowledge of historical underpinnings for glass in contemporary practices though lectures, seminar discussions, and contextual research. It forms part of the foundation for a specialist glass practice, while supporting non-specialist explorations of the properties and possibilities of the medium in broader visual arts and design contexts. Work health and safety instruction is integrated throughout the syllabus.
- Introduction to Hot / Kiln / Cold Glass
This course introduces students to fundamental skills and material understanding for working with hot, kiln and cold glass processes. Students will develop competency in handling, preparing, and transforming glass through structured technical exercises alongside exploratory approaches, material sourcing and reconstitution. Students will learn how glass behaves under heat and through material intervention, developing both control-based and experimental strategies to support creative outcomes. Students will develop an understanding of glass as both an industrially produced system and a materially responsive medium shaped through processes of heat, fracture, and reconfiguration through lectures, demonstrations, and studio-based inquiry. The course forms part of the foundation for a professional glass practice, while supporting possibilities for the medium in broader visual arts and design contexts. Work health and safety (WHS) instruction is embedded throughout.
- Introduction to Glass Flame Working
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- identify and use basic techniques and principles appropriate to glass;
- employ safe and professional studio work processes using the specialised equipment;
- explore and evaluate the creative possibilities of materials and techniques in response to set projects; and
- develop works that respond to contemporary glass theories and art practices.
Other Information
School of Art & Design studio courses have a limited enrolment capacity. Students are advised to enrol as early as possible to maximise the opportunity of securing a place.
This course will have a Materials Fee. At the ANU School of Art & Design, each workshop sources appropriate specialist materials, which are made available to students to facilitate their working effectively, efficiently and safely within our programs. The School of Art & Design is able to supply materials that don’t compromise ANU obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS), and that have been assessed as suitable for each course. The Materials Fee is payable for the School of Art & Design to supply consumables and materials that become your physical property. You can choose to pay the Materials Fee and have these materials supplied to you through the School of Art & Design, allowing you to take advantage of the GST-free bulk purchasing power of the ANU. These materials are also WHS compliant. The exact cost of the Materials Fee will be updated in the Class Summary for each semester in which the course is offered. The full SOAD policy can be read here: https://soad.cass.anu.edu.au/required-resources-and-incidental-fees.
Indicative Assessment
- Portfolio of Studio Work (Project 1) (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Portfolio of Studio Work (Project 2) (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Portfolio of Student Work (Project 3) (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Contextual Analysis and Forum (500 words) (10) [LO 3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Semester delivery
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 48 hours of contact over 12 weeks comprising demonstrations, supervised studio practice, lectures, seminar discussions, reviews and critiques; and
b) 82 hours of independent studio practice and contextual research (reading and writing).
Intensive delivery
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 48 hours of contact over 3 weeks comprising demonstrations, supervised studio practice, lectures, seminar discussions, reviews and critiques; and
b) 82 hours of independent studio practice and contextual research (reading and writing).
Inherent Requirements
Engagement
Students must participate collectively in a shared studio environment: working near others, sharing equipment and workspaces, taking part in demonstrations and supervised making, and engaging in discussions and critiques. They must work cooperatively and safely with staff and peers when studio activities require coordination.
Communication
Students must communicate with staff and peers about studio practice, learning and their work. This includes responding to instructions, feedback and demonstrations, particularly those relating to safety and the use of equipment, materials and processes. Staff may give direct instructions, intervene or demonstrate a safer method.
Students must communicate ideas about their practice and participate in discussions and critiques, explaining intentions, processes and outcomes, and responding to feedback. Communication may be verbal, written, visual, technological or by another method, provided information needed for safe practice is communicated effectively and promptly.
Sensory
Students must access and respond to relevant sensory information in medium- and high-risk studio environments, including visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory information relating to materials, equipment, processes and environmental changes. Reasonable adjustments may support safe participation.
Manual
Students must undertake practical activities involving hand tools, machinery, glass and heated kilns. This includes manipulating materials and equipment, undertaking fine and gross motor tasks, and working safely. Adjustments may be considered where learning outcomes can still be achieved safely.
Reasonable adjustments
Students uncertain about meeting an inherent requirement are encouraged to contact ANU Accessibility, in conjunction with the course convenor, before or during enrolment to discuss requirements and potential adjustments.
Prescribed Texts
Not applicable
Preliminary Reading
Steven Johnson, 2015, How we Got to Now: Six Innovations that Made the Modern World. Riverhead Books
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 12
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2027 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2027 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Glassblowing | ||||||
| 5017 | 22 Feb 2027 | 01 Mar 2027 | 31 Mar 2027 | 28 May 2027 | In Person | N/A |
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Hot / Kiln / Cold Glass | ||||||
| 10056 | 26 Jul 2027 | 02 Aug 2027 | 31 Aug 2027 | 29 Oct 2027 | In Person | N/A |