Skip to main content

The Great & Grand Rumpus

A very large cardboard mushroom with purple and green lights behind a medium size cardboard mushroom with purple lights. Both mushrooms are surrounded by smaller cardboard mushrooms

The Great & Grand Rumpus

This exhibition is in the past.
slq Gallery, level 2
#slqGreatGrandRumpus

Explore The Great & Grand Rumpus, a sculptural, digital, and immersive installation.

The exhibition origins lie in the limitless imaginations of children. The fifteen-month long community engagement project invited children from around Brisbane to expand their imaginations, and in doing so dream up a collection of the most fantastic, astonishing and magical things you could expect to see.

A warning to all who enter these doors
The brave who pass through Wobbly Tooth's jaws
Respect The Grumpus, yes that's the name
For when you enter this world, you're never the same
Through what is old, find a new state of mind
So open your eyes, who knows what you'll find?

Student sitting at a desk sketching ideas

Learn

Explore the creative learning resources used in The Great & Grand Rumpus with State Library's Curriculum Connect.

Classroom of students sketching ideas

The Making of The Great & Grand Rumpus

Explore the journey to create The Great & Grand Rumpus exhibition with the community, schools, universities, and makers.

The Well

Dive into The Well and explore ideas and imaginary creatures from children’s imaginations.

Student drawing ideas on paper

Shared experiences

The Great & Grand Rumpus on Instagram with #slqGreatGrandRumpus.

Library Shop

How Was That Built? The Stories Behind Awesome Structures illustrated book cover.

How Was That Built? The Stories Behind Awesome Structures Roma Agrawal

Two wooden pencils with ruler markings.

Pencil Ruler

Out of the Box: 25 Incredible Craft Projects You Can Make From Cardboard book cover.

Out of the Box: 25 Incredible Craft Projects You Can Make From Cardboard Jemma Westing

Mr Shaha's Marvellous Machines book cover

Mr Shaha's Marvellous Machines Emily Robertson

From the blog

Giant cardboard cat sculpture from earlier iterations of the Great and Grand Rumpus

Behold! The Great & Grand Rumpus 2021 has begun!

This extraordinary project is a celebration of creativity, community, and is happening throughout 2021. In workshops happening at State Library and in schools throughout the year, project participants will work away to imagine, design and build an extraordinary public exhibition of large-scale sculptures and immersive installations.

Image of cardboard scales as part of a giant shark structure

The making of a giant imaginary shark

If you’ve ever admired the creative thoughts of children, and wanted to bring their ideas to life – come behind the scenes at The Edge’s Fabrication Lab and learn how we’re building a giant cardboard shark!

Students folding long pieces of cardboard into beams.

Making your way with sustainable design

Cardboard boxes are everywhere.

You may also like

Kids working around a table at the Summer Festival, State Library Queensland

Children and families

Discover programs, spaces and resources for children and families.

Woman using a 3D printer at The Edge.

The Edge is State Library's space for creativity, ideas and experimentation.

People crafting at a long table.

Share in a wealth of intellectual property developed with public resources.