Winter at State Library

Join us for a conversation with acclaimed Australian artist Helga Groves, whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, sculpture, weaving, drawing and animation.Grounded in extensive research, Groves’ work explores deep geological time, natural phenomena and the physical properties of the environments she encounters. Through meticulous mark-making, layered tonal fields and abstract forms, her practice translates first-hand observations of diverse landscapes into immersive compositions that evoke the rhythm, luminosity and materiality of place.In this discussion with art historian Michele Helmrich, Groves will reflect on her creative process, the role of field research in shaping her work, and how memory, environment and abstraction continue to inform her evolving practice.About Portrait of an artistThis event is part of Portrait of an artist, a series showcasing the James C Sourris AM collection of artist interviews held at State Library. Audiences will experience a screening of Helga Groves' interview, followed by an in-conversation and Q&A session.Generously supported by James C Sourris AM through the Queensland Library Foundation.Image: Helga Groves studio portrait standing in front of a painting titled Undersea, 2026, photographer unknown.

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

This showcase celebrates Wayne’s life and legacy.

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.

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.

Did you know The Edge has a vinyl cutter available for the public to use? This entry-level machine uses a sharp blade controlled by a computer to slice precise designs into vinyl. Adhesive vinyl can be used for a variety of practical and creative applications, including decals, labels, signs, banners, lettering, and sticker graphics. During this introductory workshop, we’ll take you through the design software available and show you how to prepare a file for cutting. Be inspired by the Ekka and utilise State Library of Queensland collection to create your own Ekka-themed creations. The Edge Vinyl cutter is free to book during Open lab hours after completing the free General Induction, which allows you to book equipment with a State Library membership.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.

Are you interested in designing files for laser cutters, vinyl cutters, graphic design or large scale print media? Learn the basics of Adobe Illustrator and unlock this core skill set for creatives. Your new vector knowledge will help you with a range of equipment at The Edge, including preparing designs for laser and vinyl cutting, animation and motion graphics. In this two-hour workshop, you will draw inspiration from the Dearly Departed exhibition and start with basic shapes, then transition into making things more complex with the direct selection tool, pen tool and shape-builder.To help you get the most out of this session, please arrive with an Adobe account set up in advance; it is free to create one online. Continue to explore Illustrator after the workshop at The Edge’s Digital Media Lab, which is fully equipped with the Creative Cloud suite, available to use during opening hours. 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.

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.