Winter at State Library

This year, Yuuingan Dhilla Yari returns as a Forum with the theme Create to Connect: First Languages in Action, highlighting the many ways Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are being strengthened, shared and celebrated through community, creativity, education and cultural practice. Bringing together language practitioners, creatives, educators, researchers, organisations and community members, the one-day forum will explore how First Languages are being activated through community initiatives, education, digital storytelling, contemporary media and public programs. Guided by MC Scott Wilson, the day will centre conversation, connection and knowledge sharing, featuring a keynote presentation followed by a facilitated panel conversation. The afternoon program will then open into a community yarning space designed for networking and exchange with practitioners, organisations and fellow attendees, including community exchange tables, Creative Residency spotlights and curator tours of Through Mununjali Eyes in kuril dhagun. Keynote Speakers We’re pleased to welcome a keynote from Common Ground, co-presented by CEO Gemma Pol and Vanessa Morris. Common Ground is a First Nations-led not-for-profit organisation that uses storytelling, education and advocacy to amplify First Nations voices, strengthen pathways for storytellers, and build greater understanding and accountability across systems such as schools, media and public life. Grounded in truth-telling, reciprocity and justice, Common Ground works with communities to share knowledge in ways that support connection, challenge dominant narratives and imagine stronger futures. Following the morning program, the afternoon will open into a more informal community yarning space for networking, exchange and connection. The afternoon will include opportunities to: Visit community exchange tables with practitioners and organisations working across language, education, collections, cultural heritage and creative practice Learn about resources, programs and pathways that support First Languages work Take part in curator tours of Through Mununjali Eyes in kuril dhagun Hear from Creative Residents through spotlights featuring First Nations artists and language-led creative projects Whether you are already deeply involved in language work or just starting to explore what is possible for your community, this year’s forum will offer space to listen, learn, connect and be inspired. Learn more about the forum. Program8:30am Registration plus complimentary coffee and tea available level 2 9:30am Forum commencement slq Auditorium 1, level 2 Welcome to Country by Gaja Kerry Charlton Opening remarks by Vicki McDonald AM FALIA, State Librarian and CEO Introduction to the day by Scott Wilson, Master of Ceremonies 9:50am Keynote: Old Stories, New (and Proper) Ways slq Auditorium 1, Level 2 Common Ground, CEO Gemma Pol and Communications Director Vanessa Morris First Nations languages and stories are not linear; they spiral, connecting, remaking and moving across time and space. In an ecosystem built on colonial narratives that have historically silenced or misappropriated Indigenous knowledge, creating new but proper ways to celebrate First Languages is essential to justice and truth-telling. Common Ground’s Gemma Pol and Vanessa Morris will explore how a small, 100% First Nations-led collective is changing systems by creating self-determined spaces for language learning, sharing and safeguarding – drawing on examples from multi-platform projects like Dreamy, First Nations Bedtime Stories and Weaving Truths. 11:00am Morning tea on the Queensland Terrace, level 211:30amPanel Discussion: First Languages in Action slq Auditorium 1, level 2 Chair: Scott Wilson Panel: Corey Tutt, Mayrah Dreise, Michael Passi, and Ella Woods This panel brings together speakers working across STEM, education, storytelling, publishing, cultural capability and community-led language initiatives. The conversation will explore how First Languages are being activated in schools, creative projects, children’s resources, and public programs, and how these approaches support connection, learning and language revitalisation across community. 12:30pm Residency Spotlight slq Auditorium 1, level 2 Indigenous Languages Creative Resident Georgia Corowa will perform alongside Zeek Power, sharing Yana, an outcome from her residency project, Revitalising Iningai Language Through Song. The song represents a steppingstone in reconnecting bloodlines back to Country, with Georgia’s project exploring music as a pathway for language revitalisation and reconnection with her paternal Iningai heritage. Indigenous Languages Creative Resident Sachém Parkin-Owens’ soundscape project, Utcha ine bibboon mare – I Dreamt of You, is grounded in Jandai language, maternal lineage and Quandamooka storytelling. Created in response to State Library’s language collections and sounds from Country, his soundscape will play throughout the library during the program. 1:00pm Lunch on the Queensland Terrace, level 2 Community Conversation Space open Queensland Terrace, level 2 Drop in, yarn and connect with practitioners, organisations and State Library staff working across First Nations languages, collections, research and community programs. Scan the QR code on the back of this program for more information about participating organisations and resources. 1:30pmCurator tours of Through Mununjali Eyes: photojournalist Wayne Coolwell kuril dhagun, level 1 Led by First Nations Curator Serene Fernando, this tour explores a showcase celebrating the life and legacy of Mununjali photojournalist Wayne Coolwell through 5 decades of photography, story, culture and connection. 2:15pm 3:00pm End of symposium

A bold exploration of how Queenslanders have understood and experienced mortality.

This showcase celebrates Wayne’s life and legacy.

A playful interactive session of Pasifika music and culture.

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

Drop in anytime to create, connect, and explore.

Learn how to customise your very own 3D printed fingerboard with our introductory workshop session. Be guided through the 3D modelling and printing process and take away your very own State of Sk8 inspired object. Learn how to model your own mini skate deck and decorate the finished product. This 101 workshop is an introduction to 3D printing and design to give you a taste of the process. You can continue to deepen your 3D modelling and design learning after the workshop with the creative software available for free in the Digital Media Lab at the Edge. 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 consult our conditions of entry and Ticketing Terms and Conditions before making your booking. 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 how to use a sublimation printer and heat press to create your very own State of Sk8 merch to take home. Sublimation printing is a digital method that uses heat to turn dye into a print on polyester material. You'll pick up some basic design skills as you choose between a range of designs and collage them together to create your own finished piece. You'll be able to create and take home a tote bag and other items inspired by the diverse skate culture of Queensland!BEFORE YOU BOOK Participants 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 consult our conditions of entry and Ticketing Terms and Conditions before making your booking. 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.

Engrave a bare skateboard deck using a laser and inspiration drawn from Queensland skate culture.Learn the process of laser-engraving through a one-of-a-kind workshop where you can custom etch your very own skate deck. Lasers offer a non-contact method of marking where a focused beam is used to create indelible, high-contrast graphics on a surface.In this workshop, you will learn basic digital design skills, including working with raster and vector images, as well as practical considerations for translating digital imagery onto an actual skateboard deck. This workshop is inspired by Queensland skate culture.The ticket price includes a rideable, 9-ply maple skate deck. Trucks, wheels and grip tape are not provided as part of this workshop. BEFORE YOU BOOK Participants 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 consult our conditions of entry and Ticketing Terms and Conditions before making your booking. 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.

Take a self-guided audio tour and discover the stories behind our architecture, artworks and history.

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.

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.

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.