Poatina Arts Centre - Hot Glass Studio

The Alethea Mountain Retreat Arts Centre has been named to honor the late Alethe Clezy, a passionate artist, pioneer and advocate of the arts in Poatina. In 2006, Fusion Australia was donated an historic building in Launceston, to be re-erected as an Arts Centre in Poatina. This impressive, curved-roof aircraft hanger was initially used to shelter the famous ‘mole’ drilling machine that bored a tunnel through the Great Western Tiers as part of Tasmania’s Hydro Electric Scheme.

Stage one of the building is now complete and provides much-needed studio facilities and training for local artists and prospective students from across Tasmania and interstate.

The Poatina Hot Glass Studio, established in 2009, has relocated to a purpose built area within the building. It is the flagship of the Arts Centre which now offers Visual and Performing Arts spaces and is an exceptional tourist attraction for members of the public who are able to view live glass blowing demonstrations and witness Tasmania’s only Hot Glass teaching facility in action.

This project has received significant financial contributions from the Tasmanian Community Fund, The Ian Potter Foundation, Tasmanian State Government (Arts Tasmania), Northern Midlands Council, Rotary and a number of private donors.

The Althea Mountain Retreat Arts Centre has been an enormous undertaking for the small village community, but it is already attracting artists from all over Australia who come to participate in workshops, summer schools, artistic retreats and residencies in an inspiring natural setting. It has also become a huge attraction for local visitors and tourists.