Spring at State Library

What does it take to build a fashion brand on your own terms? Few Australian designers have built a career quite like Gail Sorronda. At a time when emerging designers gravitated towards international fashion capitals and relentless seasonal cycles, Sorronda chose a different path, forging an independent label from Brisbane with a following beyond Australia through her signature aesthetic, creative vision and sense of purpose.After graduating from QUT and a brief period working overseas, Sorronda returned to Brisbane to continue her creative practice on her own terms.That same entrepreneurial spirit has shaped her approach to fashion. Rather than following a fast-paced calendar, Sorronda has developed collections around artistic concepts, dark romanticism and enduring core pieces, creating space for creativity and commerciality to coexist.Over 2 decades, she has established a distinctive presence in Australian fashion, demonstrating that a fashion label can thrive from Brisbane without compromising its identity or vision.Join Gail Sorronda in conversation as she reflects on entrepreneurship and the realities of sustaining an independent fashion label. From building a recognisable brand to navigating an evolving industry, she will reflect on the lessons, challenges and opportunities that have shaped her career. This conversation will be facilitated by Alison KublerImage: Gail Sorronda by Claudia Baxter PhotographyAbout Game ChangersGame Changers invites innovation leaders from business, technology, and creative industries to share their insights with aspiring Queensland entrepreneurs. This is your chance to ask how entrepreneurs and business leaders build companies, reinvent themselves, inspire teams, and envision success.Game Changers is a Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame initiative presented by State Library of Queensland and QUT.AccessibilityIf you require accessible seating options please call 3842 9827 or email creativeproduction@slq.qld.gov.auAuslan interpretation has been planned for this event.Photography and videography noticeThis event will be photographed and filmed, and the resulting content may be shared online to promote State Library of Queensland and its partners.By attending, you consent to State Library capturing and using images or videos that may include you.If you prefer not to be photographed or filmed, you are still very welcome to attend. Please contact our Events team in advance at creativeproduction@slq.qld.gov.au or inform a staff member upon arrival, and we will ensure your preferences are respected.Can't join us in person?The conversation will not be live streamed but will be recorded. You will be able to watch the entire conversation after the event here.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.

This showcase celebrates Wayne’s life and legacy.

Presented by State Library to coincide with our Through Mununjali eyes exhibition currently on display, a powerful tribute to Mununjali photojournalist Wayne Coolwell and his legacy.Join us and enjoy the heat of the campfire, while listening to Wayne's friend and colleague, Jo-Anne Driessens, share memories of him, and what his work means for the future generations.Come along to listen, learn, and share.Light refreshments will be provided. Warning: Live firepit and smokeThis event is suitable for all ages; however young children are to be supervised during the event.This event is accessible, however please email kurildhagun@slq.qld.gov.au to reserve accessible seating or to answer any questions. ABOUT THE SPEAKERJo-Anne Driessens, a Guwa-Koa, Gungarri, and Kuku Yalanji woman, has spent three decades documenting Aboriginal communities in urban, remote, and regional areas.Since completing a photography cadetship at the State Library of Queensland in 1999, she has worked in curatorial and photography roles, focusing on archival research, exhibitions, and Aboriginal family history. 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.

Dive into the world of DIY zines.Zines play a unique role in independent publishing and cultural storytelling. Get hands on and embrace the DIY and counterculture roots of Zine making. In this workshop you will: Explore different formats and styles of Zines. Cover the basics of layout, folding, and storytelling while experimenting with accessible, low-cost creative methods. Create your own mini publication using simple collage, drawing, and writing techniques. 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.

Ableton Live is a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software that music producers at the high levels use for creating, recording, mixing, and live performance.In this workshop you’ll get an end-to-end overview of the music-making process in Ableton, including:Navigating the software’s interface,Utilising MIDI and live instruments,Best practices for Audio Recording and using LoopsThe basics of mixing and audio effectsLive’s unique approach to song arrangement.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.

Creating bespoke laser cut jewellery is a unique way to build your core digital skill set by learning vector drawing and designing for laser cutters.In this workshop you will:Learn vector drawing basics using Adobe IllustratorPrepare files for laser cuttingUse the laser cutter to create your own sample pair of earrings or pendent to take homeOur 101 workshops are a great way to gain some new skills and explore creative tools, learning from experienced local creatives in an inclusive space.

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

The Australian Library of Art showcase, on level 4, is regularly refreshed with content from the amazing collections that make up the Australian Library of Art. Documenting the art and craft of the book in Australia and beyond, come and discover rare antiquities, woodblocks from the birth of the printing press to printed material from the early 20th century, the sketching tools, diaries and printing plates of major Australian artists, unique artworks and publications from the significant Lindsay collection of Pat Corrigan, as well as a wide variety of artists’ books – a key strength of these collections.Current display: All Things Bright and BeautifulScarlet, crimson, ultramarine, indigo … there’s a sensual pleasure in the words alone. Human beings have made pigments from the earth, plants, insects, and even deadly toxins. This display explores our love affair with colour, including our long history of sacrificing health for beauty. It tells some of the stories of colour through the Australian Library of Art’s collections of illustrated books and artists’ books. They include the accidental invention of mauve, the first of the coal tar dyes, the green which killed children in their nurseries in Victorian England and yellow, a colour once synonymous with decadence. Compare the colour choices of the doyen of design, Christopher Dresser, to those of his contemporaries George and William Audsley, who condemned the use of such “garish pigments” as vermilion, ultramarine, emerald-green, and chrome yellow in architectural decoration. Technology brightened the life of the Victorians. Lovely or lurid, it all depends on your point of view. Dive into a world of colour, from the 19th century explosion of synthetics to the Day-Glo colours of Op Art.

We invite you to join us at Anzac Square Memorial Galleries on Sunday 13 September for a free and informative talk focused on the care and preservation of military-related items in your collection. Whether you have medals, wartime mementos, or other historical objects, this session will provide valuable insights into the best practices for their protection and longevity. This talk will be presented by State Library’s preservation team who will share expert tips on how to properly store and care for these important items, helping you appreciate their cultural and historical significance while ensuring they remain in good condition for years to come. It is an excellent opportunity to learn practical techniques for preserving your collection and to connect with others who share an interest in history and conservation. Questions are welcome. After the talk, visitors can stay to explore the Memorial Galleries, embarking on an interactive journey from the World War I to today, before taking time to reflect on the remarkable stories of bravery and sacrifice in the tranquil parklands.Anzac Square Memorial Galleries is located at 285 Ann Street, Brisbane. Entry is through the double brass doors located beneath the Shrine of Remembrance. Book now to secure your tickets!

Join our creative team for a fun-filled adventure of songs, stories and games.

Solve puzzles and explore to find hidden secrets across the library.

Drop in anytime to create, connect, and explore.

Find out when you can visit different parts of the Library on each day of the week.

Explore the best way of getting here with information, directions, and maps specific to your needs.

Explore our wonderful and diverse spaces on offer.