BIG news around the Canberra glassmaking scene is the announcement of Magda Keaney as the new artistic director at Canberra Glassworks.

The news is not all that surprising, since Keaney, has been part-time been acting artistic director at Glassworks since May while the board sought a replacement for founding director Ann Jakle.

Keaney, a curator and writer with a particular interest in photography, fashion and design, was best-known as director of the Gallery of Australian Design in its time at Commonwealth Place. She is presently undertaking a PhD in the Centre for Art History and Art Theory at the ANU.

First cab off the rank is a new exhibition, “Glass X Design,” curated by Keaney herself, in which she pairs contemporary designers and glass artists to create new work.

“Glass X Design” will be presented at Canberra Glassworks from November 15 to January 25, as part of the Design Canberra festival.