Media releases

Children and families are invited to dive into their imagination at the State Library of Queensland these school holidays.

State Library Acting CEO, Helen Brodie, said the pictures are jumping off the page at free exhibitions, craft stations, storytelling sessions, performances, workshops and much more holiday fun.

“Children and adults alike will be delighted and inspired by Look! the art of Australian picture books today, a free exhibition celebrating the breathtaking artistry behind some of the nation’s most treasured picture books,” Ms Brodie said.

“Children will recognise artworks from their favourite books by illustrators like Lucia Masciullo, Gregory Rogers, Shaun Tan, Graeme Base, Bob Graham, Leigh Hobbs and Terry Denton,” she said.

“In January, children and families inspired by Look! are in for a treat with three jam-packed weeks of picture book-inspired holiday fun.

The State Library of Queensland will benefit from $60,000 in State Government funding to create and make available high quality design education resources for Queensland teachers.

Funded through the State Government’s $3 million Designing Queensland program 2008–12, Design Minds will provide a central, online location for design education tools that all Queensland teachers can tap into.

Manager of State Library’s Asia Pacific Design Library Christian Duell said the resource, to be hosted on the APDL’s website, would be launched with content from the Queensland-Smithsonian (Cooper-Hewitt) Design Museum Fellowships.

“The aim of Design Minds is to increase the capacity of Queensland teachers to teach creativity in the context of the Australian Curriculum, as well as increase the opportunity for students to take part in world-class design education projects and activities,” he said.

Arts Minister Rachel Nolan today announced an Australian publishing first for the State Library of Queensland’s black&write! Indigenous Writing and Editing project leading to publishing deals for the winning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors.

“The State Library and respected Indigenous publishing house, Magabala Books, have agreed to publish the winning manuscripts by the kuril dhagun Writing Fellows,” Ms Nolan said.

“2010 kuril dhagun Writing Fellow Sue McPherson, from the Sunshine Coast, will have her young adult fiction novel Grace Beside Me published just four years after taking up writing, alongside a book of verse poetry, Ruby Moonlight, by South Australian Fellow Ali Cobby Eckermann."

Famous for being a place to expand your mind and change your life, State Library of Queensland will welcome its new CEO and State Librarian in February 2012.

State Library has built a reputation for successfully re-imagining libraries for the 21st century, and new CEO Ms Janette Wright will build on this tradition.

Announcing her appointment, Library Board of Queensland Chairman Professor Roly Sussex said Ms Wright was ideally qualified to lead State Library. He said she was an experienced library professional with an astute business mind.

“Her previous roles in library management and library supply show her to be a new technology innovator with a strong commitment to the future of libraries to support social change and equity. As director of an Australian online publisher she led the development of new content such as "TV-News", providing on-line access to full video content of Australian broadcast news and current affairs programs under licence for education use. Ms Wright has served at senior levels in the public service and on the council of the National Film and Sound Archive where she convened the Indigenous Materials Collection Committee, working with the archive staff and representatives of Indigenous communities to establish policies for the management of sensitive archival materials." he said.

Arts Minister Rachel Nolan today announced some of the hottest children’s authors will be on hand this summer when the State Library kicks off its annual Summer Reading Club with a newly-expanded national program.

“Due to its enormous success in previous years, the 2011-2012 Summer Reading Club will this year go national, online, giving reading clubbers opportunities to connect with children right across the country, sharing stories and making friends,” Ms Nolan said.

“Children can chat online to bestselling authors Morris Gleitzman, Andy Griffiths and Oliver Phommavanh when the Summer Reading Club opens on 5 December.

“This is a great way to begin the National Year of Reading in 2012 and promote reading as a fun and enjoyable experience."

Run in partnership with the Australian Library and Information Association and Public Libraries Australia, the Summer Reading Club is a free school holiday program with activities designed especially for children up to the age of 16.

Themed The Amazing Read, this year’s Club explores the many different places and spaces to read in, and the incredible discoveries and worlds that stories can take young readers into – from the past to outer-space.

Exciting activities and events for children will be available through more than 1000 public libraries across Australia as well as online through www.summerreadingclub.org.au

Find your local public library.

On Saturday 10 December, Marvin the Murri Minstrel, Mzzz Klauz and her crew will sing, rhyme and dance for the State Library’s annual Murri Christmas.

Children and families are invited to dress their best, sing and dance along and get their own free photo taken with Mzzz Klauz.

Murri Claus has made some impressive entrances in past years and this year Mzzz Klauz will not be outdone by her grandfather with her own surprise glamorous entrance.

Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the merriment at this unique, free festive event.

Visit www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on for more information.

Arts Minister Rachel Nolan today invited Queenslanders to contribute their own photos from the state's 2010-2011 summer disasters to a special State Library of Queensland project.

"The Flood & Cyclone Mosaic project has been developed so that those affected by the recent floods and cyclones can share their experiences, including the recovery process, with all Queenslanders," Ms Nolan said.

"All photos submitted will be part of the Mosaic, an interactive feature wall that will be on display as part of a major exhibition, Floodlines, in 2012 at the State Library.

"The mosaic will also be accessible online, creating a visual record of events that can be shared with current and future generations, as a way of healing, remembering, understanding and learning."

Fifty-four libraries across nine disaster-affected Queensland regional council areas have signed up to help collect photos from their areas.

Queenslanders outside these areas can also contribute through uploading up to five photos at www.mosaic.slq.qld.gov.au.

State Library Acting CEO, Helen Brodie said children and adults alike will be delighted and inspired by Look! the art of Australian picture books today, opening on 3 December.

“Created by the State Library of Victoria, Look! is a travelling exhibition which features original artworks, sketches and drawings by more than 40 of Queensland and Australia’s most talented illustrators. Children will recognise artworks from their favourite books by illustrators including Stella Danalis, Gregory Rogers; Shaun Tan; Graeme Base; Bob Graham; Leigh Hobbs and Terry Denton,” Ms Brodie said.
“Opening in time for the summer holidays, and offering a range of free and affordable activities for all ages, Look! is sure to be a popular family destination. Children will be drawn in by the enchanting nature of the exhibition and will be able to create their very own illustrations at virtual book stations in slq gallery and The Corner. Adults, who may not have been exposed to picture books since childhood, can re-discover their magic, and marvel at the skill and sophistication of the artwork,” she said
The exhibition displays sketches, drafts, mock-ups, finished artwork and publications as well as multimedia presentations and augmented reality to demonstrate the various stages of developing contemporary Australian picture books.

State Library of Victoria curator Mike Shuttleworth says Look! gives people a chance to see artwork from their favourite stories up close and explore the process of visual storytelling.

"The exquisite images tell many stories, sharing glimpses into the beautiful, hilarious, adventurous and sometimes scary worlds of childhood. They help children to understand their world and give imaginations fuel to dream,” Mr Shuttleworth said.

On Saturday 3 December, families can celebrate the launch of Look! with a free family fun day.

From 10am to 3pm, children and families can dive into their imaginations with craft activities, musical workshops, free films, illustration stations, storytelling and more.

Look! is supported by Visions of Australia, an Australian Government program supporting touring exhibitions by providing funding assistance for the development and touring of Australian cultural material across Australia.

State Library is getting political this summer, showcasing the history of persuasion with the Cane Toad Times exhibition and Queensland Votes display.

Both Cane Toad Times, a satirical magazine of the 1970s and ‘80s, and Queensland Votes, a collection of various political parties’ election memorabilia dating back to the 1920s, explore the art of persuasion in very different ways.

The Politics & persuasion at slq program also includes curators’ tours, a new journalism program at The Edge and other events.

Visit www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on to find out more.

British artist Stephen Wiltshire will sketch his impression of Brisbane at State Library of Queensland later this month as part of TEDxBrisbane.

Stephen has gained worldwide acclaim for his large scale and highly detailed cityscapes, which he draws predominantly from memory, often after only viewing the
city briefly.

Stephen will fly over Brisbane city in a helicopter on Friday 25 November, before he spends the next four days committing his view of Brisbane to a large canvas, while
visitors watch.

State Library Acting CEO Helen Brodie said she was delighted Queenslanders would get to experience Stephen’s artistry up close.

“While he is working on his piece, we encourage people to visit State Library to view Stephen as he works over four days, from Saturday 26 to Tuesday 29 November,”
Ms Brodie said.

“Stephen has created detailed drawings of many of the world’s great cities including New York, Tokyo, Venice, London and Sydney. We are proud to have him in another great city – Brisbane.”
Stephen is hosted in Brisbane by Arowana Partners Group and managing partner, Kevin Chin, who has commissioned the panorama of Brisbane.

His visit is an encore to TEDxBrisbane 2011, held at State Library on 15 October.

“We thank Kevin and the TEDxBrisbane team for their generosity in allowing the finished piece to be displayed at State Library so it may be enjoyed by the Brisbane
community and visitors alike,” Ms Brodie said.

The visit was originally scheduled for early October, and was postponed so Stephen could undergo a small and successful operation.