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Step inside the minds of the Brisbane Portrait Prize’s most celebrated artists.Go behind the portraits with the winners of the 2026 Brisbane Portrait Prize in an intimate conversation exploring the ideas, stories and creative decisions behind this year's award-winning works.Hosted by Board Chair Anna Reynolds, this session offers audiences the opportunity to hear directly from the artists as they reflect on their creative process, the journey to becoming a finalist, and what it means to have their work recognised by the Prize.Join us to hear more about the: Inspiration, process and stories behind the winning portraitsCreative decisions that shaped each workExperience of participating in and winning the Brisbane Portrait PrizeEnduring power of portraiture to capture identity, connection and contemporary lifeModerated by Rebecca Levingston, ABC Radio

The Explainer Series is about exploring the questions we’re all asking.Australia is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Our food, neighbourhoods, workplaces, languages and traditions reflect generations of people and cultures coming together – but what does it really mean to be a multicultural nation? The Explainer Series: Multiculturalism explores how cultural diversity has shaped modern Australia and our evolving ideas of identity and belonging. How did we become the multicultural society we are today? What makes multiculturalism work? And as Australia continues to change, how do we create a shared sense of belonging while celebrating the many cultures, experiences and identities that make up our communities? Join us for a thoughtful conversation about where Australian multiculturalism has come from, where we are today and what our increasingly diverse future might look like.Meet Our SpeakersAleem Ali is CEO of Welcoming Australia, leading the country's largest network advancing social cohesion, working with councils, universities, workplaces and sporting clubs to build communities where everyone belongs. His first and last names are Arabic, but his middle name is Shaun, Anglo-Celtic, like the sheep. At our upcoming Explainer Series event, he's most excited to explore the systems and stories that shape who we think we are as a nation and who gets to be part of that story.Mark Cully was the inaugural chief economist for the immigration department and chaired the OECD’s working party on migration. He was born a dual national, but his heart beats for the third one he acquired, aged ten (Australia). For the Explainer event on multiculturalism, he is most interested in exploring what obligations we owe to one another to solidify the “most successful multicultural nation in the world.”The Explainer SeriesThe Explainer Series is a space for thoughtful conversations with people who really know their stuff, sharing insights and context so we can better navigate the big and small questions in our lives.From international law and cryptocurrency to climate change, gut health and space junk, these talks bring ideas, trends and debates into focus, helping us form our own understanding, guided by curiosity and expertise.There’s no spin and no hype, just experts helping us think more clearly about the world around us.The Explainer Series is generously supported by Gina Fairfax AC and Tim Fairfax AC through the Queensland Library Foundation.Subscribe to be the first to know about our future events.Please consult our conditions of entry and Ticketing Terms and Conditions before making your booking. We respect your privacy. Personal information we collect is used only for our internal activities and functions (Libraries Act 1988 (Qld)) and will not be disclosed unless required by law. For more information, please read State Library's privacy statement.The views expressed by the speakers are their own and the promotion of products/services is not endorsed by State Library.

Come along to discover the tools and frameworks driving this creative shift and explore the ethical dimensions of generative art.Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we create, design, and think about art and culture in the 21st century. But how do we navigate this evolving landscape in a way that aligns with our values, intentions, and creative goals?In this interactive workshop you will:Learn how AI models are trained and what it means for you.Practice prompt calibration and parameters.Define your own creative and ethical boundaries.Our 101 workshops are a great way to gain some new skills and explore creative tools learning from experienced local creatives in an inclusive space. Please consult our conditions of entry and Ticketing Terms and Conditions.Participants under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a guardian.Please contact us if you need support to participate in this event.