The competition, open to children aged between 3 and 13 years old, will see professional artists turn designs into functional glassware.

To take part, children have been encouraged to submit designs for "a functional funny face", which artists could turn into a mug, a jug, or even a vase.

Grade-six students from the Arawang Primary School were the first to take part in the competition on Thursday morning with internationally renowned glass blower Tom Rowney turning their ideas into art.

Mr Rowney said he was delighted to bring a child's design to life and the competition was another way for children to engage with art.

"Kids look at the world in their own unique way, and so they are often really open and free as to what they draw out from their imaginations," he said.

"As a parent myself, I gain so much enjoyment seeing my children create fun designs.

"This competition lends another level of creativity by bringing the winning design to life and I'm looking forward to seeing the winning design."

Artist-in-residence Lisa Cahill has been working with many children across the ACT to prepare for the competition and to help teachers and students explore new forms of portraiture.

Glass competitions have proved popular with children at the Glassworks for many years, with contestantsable to keep their works once they have been created and displayed.

This year's competition aligns with Design Canberra, a four-day festival that seeks to celebrate and promote Canberra's design community.

Entries for competition close on November 24 and entry forms can be found on The Canberra Times website.

All entries will be displayed in the Engine Room at the Glassworks until December with the final two winners being announced at a special event on January 22.