How a tight-knit industry is helping keep a now-rare art form alive

For a snapshot in time, we asked eight people around the country to reflect on Australia Now. Here, Aimee Frodsham, Artistic Director of Canberra Glassworks in the ACT, shares her thoughts on what the global pandemic has taught her.

Keep reading our Australia Now series here.

What do three-metre-long eel traps and a pair of cowboy boots have in common? They’re both currently on display at major Melbourne exhibitions: Maree Clarke: Ancestral Memories at the NGV and Patricia Piccinini’s A Miracle Constantly Repeated at Flinders Street Station. And they were both created in glass at Canberra Glassworks.

Working with some of Australia’s biggest names in art on commissions like these is one of many strands that Canberra Glassworks – Australia’s leading centre for contemporary glass art, craft and design – deals in. Housed in the historic Kingston Power House, which powered the early development of the city, it’s a place that simultaneously innovates and celebrates the centuries-old glassmaking tradition in all its multifarious forms.

Canberra Glassworks Shop — The new shop at Canberra Glassworks, Australia’s leading centre for contemporary glass art, is winning plaudits for its interior design. (Image: Pew Pew Studio/Skeehan Studio)

A day in the life of an artistic director

In her role as artistic director, Aimee Frodsham looks after the centre’s exhibition program and helps facilitate making in the studios (whether that’s the fabrication of work for exhibitions and commissions or glassmakers operating their own business from the centre).

A glassblower herself who trained at ANU School of Art & Design (then Canberra School of Art) during a febrile time in the 1990s, Aimee often finds herself on the floor working with the makers across the various areas, including the hot shop and kiln, helping to facilitate fabrication of works that take many forms and specialisms. (“I’d never ask a goblet maker to make a bead for me," she explains, to highlight the sheer diversity that exists within glassmaking.)

“I love the history, the tradition and the skill, and I love and admire the artists that have dedicated their whole careers to mastering one particular area," Aimee says of her passion for glasswork. “I think that is just so mind-blowing in this contemporary world; nothing that we do is done on the computer." Without these phenomenal makers, she says, these crafts would be lost: consider the neon signs we see everywhere from shopfronts to Sydney’s famous Coca-Cola billboard.

What she loves about glassmaking

The knowledge of this now-rare trade is at the risk of dying out, and the relationship Canberra Glassworks has forged with the industry is helping to fill the skills gap, demystify long-held secrets (that no longer need to be kept from a commercial sense), and turn the trade into an art form; as part of the National Portrait Gallery’s Australian Love Stories exhibition earlier in 2021, artist Harriet Schwarzrock created 120 sublime glass heart sculptures pumped full of neon.

The skill and craft involved in glassmaking necessitates collaboration and breeds a tight-knit artistic community. “We all really love and support each other," says Aimee. “We have to, to be able to make our work." And this sense of community extends outwards, too, embracing the public through education programs and school tours (“For us it’s quite strategic, because it’s really important for the next generation to know that glassmaking is a career") or team-building exercises for, say, the local police force or volunteer firefighters post-Black Summer bushfires. And, of course, workshops, from jewellery-making to glassblowing, which were booked up for months in advance after the Netflix series Blown Away aired. “We really encourage people as hobbyists to come and learn and to make, and to be part of our community."

Colourful glassworks for sale at Canberra Glassworks — The knowledge of this now-rare trade is at the risk of dying out. (Image: Pew Pew Studio/Skeehan Studio)

What the pandemic has taught her

Learning to be a better communicator, especially in terms of safety issues, and to be more agile within the organisation are some of the positive takeaways of the pandemic for Aimee. And missing having people around in the same way forged a different type of connection, by way of weekly Zoom sessions for the Australia-wide glassmaking community: “Every week another group of artists leads a conversation. They’re quite informal and a way for us to see each other and connect. We’ll keep going with those kinds of things because it has made me realise how fragile access can be, and providing access in different ways is really important. Zoom has given us the ability to reach out to people in our community who maybe felt isolated without us realising it."

Aimee says she feels lucky to live in Canberra, which she found transformed upon her return in 2015 after living and working in London for 12 years. “It had grown into a really wonderful, exciting city that had lost quite a bit of that stigma around it being a public service town." The past 18 months have left her feeling in some ways more connected and rooted to Australia in general and optimistic that we’re leaders in the world for art: “I feel really connected to the arts community and the amazing things we’re doing here."

Enjoy the sunshine from one of these sky-high haunts.

You will see the nation’s capital in an entirely new context when you perch yourself at one of the best rooftop bars in Canberra. From sunset vistas over Lake Burley Griffin to lively venues with salsa, live music and luxe lounges, the nation’s capital has a lot to offer.  Here is our guide to the best rooftop bars in Canberra.

1. The Inn at Edgars

diners at Edgar’s Inn, Canberra — Edgar’s Inn is a serene haven for foodies looking for a hearty brunch.

Edgar’s Inn is an institution in Canberra. As well as being one of Canberra’s best places for brunch, it offers the kind of camaraderie that makes it a community hub. By day, the multi-venue destination is a place where families converge for coffee and croissants after Saturday soccer. As day turns to night, the bar transmogrifies into a buzzy night spot for a catch-up with the girls or cosy dinner date under a cloud of giggles and clinking glasses.  Follow the scent of wood smoke upstairs to The Inn where everything from carrots to cauliflower to premium wagyu gets kissed with fire over an asado grill. While the views from the rooftop aren’t sky high, this is prime real estate.

Address: Level 1, 1 Edgar Street, Ainslie

2. Highball

the rooftop bar at Highball, Canberra — Highball sits atop the Melbourne building overlooking London Circuit.

Canberrans know how to al fresco. And Highball feeds into their lofty ambitions. Come spring, you’ll see locals gathering here to admire the trees below with their canopy of feathery, iridescent green leaves. Canberra doesn’t have the towering skyscrapers and soaring views boasted by its big-city counterparts. But it still has some of the best rooftop bars in Australia. Sit – highball in hand, of course – at Highball , which sits atop the Melbourne building overlooking London Circuit. Given its proximity to Parliament House, you’ll find public servants here with all kinds of political persuasions. Sign up for Tuesday night salsa or cocktail-making classes. It’s definitely worth a tipple or two.

Address: Level 1, 75 London Circuit, Canberra City

3. Leyla Bar

the Leyla rooftop bar, Canberra — Leyla Bar features views of the Canberra city skyline.

It’s very easy to lift your spirits when you’re sitting, cocktail in hand, overlooking sweeping views of Canberra’s city skyline, Lake Burley Griffin, and beyond. Watch the sun set and pour liquid amber over some of the city’s most iconic buildings from Leyla Bar so you can contextualise your place in the nation’s capital. The bar is bright and breezy and a top spot for bar bites inflected with a Spanish accent. Canberra’s newest rooftop bar is on the rooftop of the Burbury Hotel in Barton. We recommend the cheese toastie with hot mustard and pickles and a glass of something local and funky.

Address: Level 7, 1 Burbury Close, Barton

4. Howling Moon

the rooftop bar at Howling Moon, Canberra — Head to the Howling Moon for a sundowner.

Looking for a central hotel close to all the action in Canberra? The Rex Hotel is located amid the hustle and bustle of Braddon. And the views are just as vibrant as the cocktails. Do a few laps of Lonsdale St and then retreat to the covered rooftop, which is in action year-round.  Howling Moon is one of the best rooftop bars in Canberra for its location. But there’s also plenty of green corners where you can sit and watch the sun dip over the distant hills. Order the aptly titled ‘Above the Avenue’ and wolf down some wood-fired pizzas. Howling at the moon optional.

Address: Level 6, 150 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon

5. Bar 59

the rooftop bar at Bar 59, Canberra — Sip on local spirits overlooking Lake Ginninderra. (Image: Bar 59)

Bump your way up one of the rutted mountain tracks of Mt Ainslie so you can earn your calories at Bar 59, atop the Mercure Canberra Belconnen . Bar 59 is your absolute go-to for its stunning outlook over Lake Ginninderra.  It’s open from 4pm until late on Thursdays and Fridays, where you can enjoy everything from local spirits and craft beers to wines and classic cocktails. Those who think Canberra remains forged around public servants and roundabouts need a rethink. Invite your cynical mates from Sydney for sunset cocktails using a smug tone (verging on victorious) to Bar 59 for live music on a Friday night. Take that Syd Angeles and Bris Vegas.

Address: 59 Cameron Avenue, Belconnen

6. OHNO!

the entrance to OHNO! rooftop bar in Canberra — Enter this buzzy bar for casual drinks.

OHNO! … is frankly more of a ‘hell yes’. It’s one of Canberra’s newest elevated bars and a standout on the casual drinking and dining scene. You might gather from the almighty Google that OHNO! is your go-to in Griffith. And it’s a civilised experience to be encouraged to wait upstairs for your table with a drink before you dine. Don’t miss out on the house DJs and do ask for the waiter’s advice when it comes to ordering off the menu (which is so extensive it reads like an instructional manual). It is quite likely you will go with the suggestion of mud crab with betel leaf, green papaya, coconut and salmon roe or the Japanese curry donut with apple, carrot, potato and onion. Expect an extensive wine list, too.

Address: 13 & 15 Flinders Way, Griffith

7. The Duxton

diners at The Duxton, Canberra — Enjoy hearty pub grub at The Duxton.

You might find yourself at The Duxton due to the insistence of your local mate, who raves about its Suits & Sips nights. We get it – your vibe is your tribe – but there are plenty of ways you can loosen the necktie at The Duxton.  The recently reimagined pub has DJs and hearty pub grub as well as lighter, healthier meals. Best of all: you can take in the sights of Canberra from an entirely new vantage point when perched at its new rooftop terrace, a leafy extension of The Loft. Let’s face it, enjoying the city views from the dynamic pub is a much better option than staying in at your Canberra accommodation in your PJs. You can also choose your own adventure in The Oak Room or Living Room downstairs.

Address: Corner Sargood and Macpherson Street, O’Connor

8. Yaki Boi

Bounce into Yaki Boi with a bit of swagger so you can feel at home among the rest of the pilgrims converging here for sunshine, pan-Asian snacks and spritzers. Consider your perch to be designed for prime people-watching with the crowd a mix of university students shuffling in after their last tutorial, and some local political pundits engaging in soft chit-chat in the corner. It’s not overstating it to say the Japanese fusion bites are fab. The cocktails are also fun and will get you very excited indeed about the prospect of hunkering down here for the evening. Another round is only an option if you order just one basket of dumplings. Head here for happy hour to beat the #cossylivs crisis.

Address: ORI Building, 72/30 Lonsdale St, Braddon.

9. Public Bar Manuka

the rooftop bar Public Bar Manuka, Canberra — Public Bar Manuka reels you in with its industrial-retro aesthetic.

Make sure you know how to pronounce Mahnika before you start waving your credit card around at Public Bar Manuka . Regardless of how many eye rolls you elicit from the locals if you pronounce the suburb ‘Muhnooka’, it has a ‘visitor’s welcome’ vibe that can’t be manufactured. Public Bar Manuka has a gritty, glam, industrial-retro aesthetic we love, with brass accent lighting, curved wooden tables and velvet chairs. But make no mistake: it’s the locals that hold this place together. Sit upstairs in the dining room and cocktail bar to enjoy a gossip and a giggle while looking out over the neighbourhood.

Address: Manuka Arcade, 1/33 Flinders Way, Griffith.

Aimee Frodsham on how a tight-knit industry is helping keep a rare art form alive