Autumn at State Library

Join us for a free exhibition tour of Dearly Departed.

Thought-provoking talks exploring death, dying and remembrance.

Hands-on workshops reflecting on memory, legacy and loss.

Make beautiful mobiles inspired by the wonders of the sky.

Build flying machines that swoop, spin and soar.

Play with paint to create out-of-this-world artworks.

Thoughtful talks with experts, offering clear context and insight into today’s big and small questions.

Death Café is a facilitated gathering that offers a welcoming, informal space for open conversation about death, dying, and mortality, over tea and coffee.Following an internationally recognised model, this session brings people together in small groups to talk, listen and reflect. There is no agenda and no expectation to speak. Conversations are gently supported by trained facilitators, allowing participants to engage in ways that feel comfortable and respectful.Rather than offering instruction or expertise, Death Café encourages curiosity, shared stories and thoughtful discussion, helping to normalise conversations about death and reduce isolation around a topic often avoided.This event runs in conjunction with Dearly Departed: death in life, State Library’s exhibition drawing on rich collections of objects and stories to explore how social, cultural, spiritual, historical and political forces have shaped Queenslanders’ attitudes to death and dying. Attendees are encouraged to visit the exhibition before or after the event to deepen their engagement with its themes and artworks.Credit: Death Café was founded by Jon Underwood, based on the work of Bernard Crettaz. deathcafe.com/Content noteThis event engages with themes of death, dying, memory and remembrance. Content may include personal stories or discussion that some people may find emotionally affecting. You’re welcome to participate at your own pace and to step away or take a break at any time.Some events may also include references to people who have since passed, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.Image: Funeral of Waysl Holojad, first conductor of the Ukrainian Association of Queensland Choir, South Brisbane Cemetery, Dutton Park, 1952, 1952, unidentified, 31360 Roman and Alexandra Pavlyshyn papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image 31360-0009-0008.

Join us for our first Heritage Talk of 2026 where we will hear from a panel of experts and passionate friends of Queensland’s many storied and historical cemeteries. Cemeteries exist not only for the dead but also as a space for the living. Across Queensland, they are now valued not only as a resting and remembering place, but also as places of historical significance and civic engagement that continue to connect communities in meaningful ways. This event runs in conjunction with Dearly Departed: death in life, State Library's exhibition that encourages reflection on mortality through history, art and personal stories. Audiences are welcome to visit the exhibition before or after the event to engage more deeply with its themes and artworks.About Heritage talksOur Heritage Talks connect audiences to our extraordinary collections by inviting speakers to share their expertise and perspectives on topics relating to Queensland history.

Join us for a tour of the Through Mununjali eyes: photojournalist Wayne Coolwell showcase in kuril dhagun.Free First Nations led showcase tours are held fortnightly and alternate with free tours led by a special guest.About the exhibition:Wayne Coolwell was a trailblazer of his generation and a powerful voice for his people. A proud Mununjali man with a sharp eye for a story, he captured moments that bridged cultures and inspired connection. Known affectionately as the “Cool Cat of journalism,” Wayne moved effortlessly among the greats, between the media and community, treating every encounter as part of his day’s work behind the lens and microphone.Respected by his peers and cherished by audiences nationwide, Wayne was among the first Aboriginal voices to grace Australia’s airwaves. His talent, humility and fearless curiosity made him a true pioneer.This showcase celebrates Wayne’s life and legacy through his own photography, revealing the people, places, and moments that shaped his remarkable journey. It invites audiences to remember not only his professional achievements but the warmth, wit and cultural pride that made him unforgettable.Through Mununjali eyes brings together 5 decades of Wayne’s photographs, honouring his legacy – where story, culture, and connection continue to resonate across generations.Where: Meet at the entrance to kuril dhagun, level 1, State Library of Queensland.Please note: There is no need to bring a printed ticket, instead when you arrive your name will be checked off on a registration list. The exhibition is accessible, but should you have any questions please contact exhibitions@slq.qld.gov.auSubscribe to be the first to know about our future events.Please consult our conditions of entry 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.

Join us for a free exhibition tour of Dearly Departed: death in life. Tours are held monthly and alternate with Dearly Departed: death in life thematic tours by special guests. About the exhibition:Death is a universal experience. It will come to us all. Yet the way we confront, discuss, experience and ultimately reckon with death, and the realities of dying, varies enormously. Culturally diverse traditions and practices around death offer unique insights into how communities around the world honour and mourn their loved ones, shaping vastly different experiences and understandings of life’s final chapter.Throughout the 20th century, death became a quiet taboo; something rarely spoken of, despite touching every life. Positioned at the powerful intersection of history, art and emotion, Dearly Departed encourages audiences to reflect on what it means to live well, die well and honour those who came before us. It reframes death not as an ending, but as a profound and enduring part of Queensland’s living story.Innovative, accessible, and deeply human, Dearly Departed: death in life invites visitors into a bold exploration of mortality across Queensland’s past, present and future. Through rich historical insight, evocative artistic interpretation and interactive design, the exhibition sparks meaningful conversation about life, death and the memories we hold.The exhibition examines the social, cultural, spiritual, historical and political forces that have shaped Queenslanders’ experiences and attitudes toward death and dying – then and now.Join us as we rediscover how confronting death helps us better understand life itself.Where: Meet at the entrance to slq Gallery, level 2, State Library of Queensland.Please note: There is no need to bring a printed ticket, instead when you arrive your name will be checked off on a registration list. The exhibition is accessible, but should you have any questions please contact exhibitions@slq.qld.gov.au.Content: Dearly Departed: death in life and engages with themes of death, dying, memory and remembrance. Content may include personal stories, imagery, sound or discussion that some people may find emotionally affecting. You’re welcome to participate at your own pace and to step away or take a break at any time.Some events may also include references to, or recordings of, people who have since passed, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.Image: Gravestones overlooking Moreton Bay, 1957, Bull, J., John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative 199972.

Join us for a tour of level 4.Discover more on level 4 at State Library, home to our rare and remarkable heritage collections.In the Philip Bacon Heritage Gallery you will learn more about the exhibition Extraordinary stories featuring a rotating selection of stories about ordinary Queenslanders whose lives were anything but. These are stories worth collecting, stories worth hearing and stories worth telling, drawn from the Library’s collections to tell us more about Queensland and the lives lived here.Also on level 4 you will find the Talbot Family Treasures Wall featuring a changing selection of items from State Library’s heritage collections. The John Oxley Library has collected, preserved and shared Queensland’s collective memory since 1934 and the Talbot Family Treasures Wall is where you can view items of state significance. Each item on display here reveals a remarkable story, and together they help deepen our understanding of Queensland’s diverse lifestyle, landscape, culture and community.Free Curator’s tours of these spaces are held monthly. Join one of a specialist curators to discover the unknown stories and hidden gems of State Library’s collections.Book your space now!Meet: at the entrance to the Heritage Gallery suite on Level 4, State Library of Queensland

Join us at the Edge for a two-session workshop on the innovative world of projection mapping and gain the skills to bring stories to life through video onto different surfaces. Projection mapping is an exciting art form that merges video, light, and architecture, transforming static objects into vivid displays for visual narratives. Within this hands-on workshop, you'll experience the creative journey from concept to realisation. We’ll show you how to edit and map projections onto hard surfaces using the Library’s digital video collection content. Perfect for those looking to develop a practical understanding of video installations, or creatives looking for innovative ways to present narratives. The workshops aim to equip participants with the confidence to start their own video projection journey, and would be great for anyone eager to explore the intersection of digital creativity and public art.This workshop occurs over two consecutive workshops Saturday 11 April and Saturday 18 April. It is expected you will attend both Saturday sessions as they build upon each other. Before you bookParticipants must be over 16 years of age. Please read through our Getting Started at The Edge page which includes terms of use. You’ll find answers to age restrictions, what to bring, what to do if you’re running late, refunds and more. Please become a State Library member before you arrive. If you already have a State Library member account, make sure you know your login details as you may be required to login during the workshop to access State Library computers, and to make bookings for equipment. Please contact us if you need support to participate in this event and consult State Library of Queensland's conditions of entry before making your booking. To find out more about what else is on offer, read up on The Edge and our make and design space. You can also subscribe to be the first to know about our future events.

Learn more about the 3D printing and design process by designing a versatile stamp that you can use to create indentations on clay and other soft surfaces. In this hands-on workshop, you'll be guided through the fundamentals of 3D modelling, learning how to design and customise your own unique stamps. Whether you want to add texture, imprint a personalised maker’s mark, or create decorative motifs, this session will equip you with the skills to bring your creative ideas to life. Your stamp designs will then be printed and available for you to collect and take home for your creative projects. Please note, this workshop is an introduction to 3D printing and the design process to give you a taster of the process. You will need to complete a separate 3D printing induction in order to be able to access and print on the machines at the Edge as part of Open Lab. ABOUT 101 WORKSHOPS101 skill development workshops give you the basic skills you need to start your new creative journey. Each workshop is delivered by an experienced facilitator and to participate in the workshops, intermediate computer skills, a willingness to learn and a little patience will see you underway. BEFORE YOU BOOKParticipants must be over 16 years of age.Please read through our Getting Started at The Edge page which includes terms of use. You’ll find answers to age restrictions, what to bring, what to do if you’re running late, refunds and more. Please become a State Library member before you arrive. If you already have a State Library member account, make sure you know your login details as you may be required to login during the workshop to access State Library computers, and to make bookings for equipment. Please contact us if you need support to participate in this event and consult State Library of Queensland's conditions of entry before making your booking. To find out more about what else is on offer, read up on The Edge and our make and design space. You can also subscribe to be the first to know about our future events.

Please note that Open lab will be closed Saturday 4 April.Are you a maker, designer or fabricator? Or are you someone interested in learning new skills and getting hands on with digital and fabrication resources?This is your chance to get creative during our Open lab sessions at The Edge, and engage with a community of like-minded creators.Open lab is when the creative equipment at The Edge is available to be booked for the public to use for free, you just need to undertake the necessary induction so can you learn all the safety and booking requirements. Open lab is facilitated by staff who are able to support you with the range of software available in the Digital Media Lab, fabrication and design tips, and point you in the direction of other community makers or further resources for your creative projects.Please note, equipment bookings are required for all Open lab sessions, including Hack the evening, our community meetup. Every Wednesday 12 – 5 pmEvery Thursday 1:30 – 8 pm (join us for Hack the evening from 5 pm)Every Saturday 12 noon – 5 pm WHAT EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE DURING OPEN LAB? The following resources are available to book for free once the appropriate equipment induction has been undertaken, some materials are at an additional cost: Two laser cutters (Laser Induction required - $45)Prusa 3D printers (3D printer Induction required - $45)Vinyl cutter (General Induction required - Free)Sewing machines, overlocker and embroidery machine (Sewing Induction required - $45)Electronics benches included soldering stations (Electronics Induction required - $45)Hand tools and electronics repair tools (General Induction required - Free) General and Safety Inductions required. Requirements Head to our Getting started at The Edge page and read through our Terms of use and FAQs.

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