Program of Events

Tours

Free exhibition tour

Enjoy a free, half-hour guided tour of the exhibition’s highlights.

1.15pm Tues & Thurs; 2.30pm Sun (except 26 Dec-7 Jan)
Venue: Meet in front foyer
Bookings: only required for groups (03 8664 7555 or learning@slv.vic.gov.au)
Cost: free

Free Audio tour

For a lively commentary on the exhibition, download the audio tour to your mp3 player (or borrow a player from Experimedia).

Tour for school groups

A guided tour suitable for all year levels. Every student will soon have a favourite character!

Half-hour tours available, Mon-Fri during school terms
Venue: Meet in front foyer
Bookings: 03 8664 7555 or learning@slv.vic.gov.au
Cost: $2 per student

Talks & forums

Secret Identities: The Curator in Conversation

Hear exhibition curator Kevin Patrick reveal what changed him from a mild-mannered writer into a self-confessed comics addict! Kevin will be joined in conversation by Shane Carmody, the Library’s Director of Collections and Access.

Tues 24 Oct, 6.30-7.45pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe Street)
Bookings: 03 8664 7016 or bookings@slv.vic.gov.au
Cost: $12/$10

Meet the Curator (for Foundation members)

Before the Secret Identities talk (above), members of the State Library of Victoria Foundation are invited to enjoy complimentary drinks with Kevin Patrick.

Tues 24 Oct, 5.45-6.30pm
Venue and bookings as for Secret Identities

Inside the exhibition: Free curator talks

Curator and comics buff Kevin Patrick offers a lively introduction to the exhibition.

Wed 25 Oct, 2-3pm; Sun 26 Nov, 3-4pm; Wed 13 Dec, 6-7pm; Wed 14 Feb, 3-4pm
Venue: Keith Murdoch Gallery
Bookings: 03 86647016 or bookings@slv.vic.gov.au
Cost: free

Shaun Tan and 'The Arrival'

Meet leading picture-book illustrator Shaun Tan and discover his new graphic novel, The Arrival. It pushes the boundaries of the genre, tracing the journey of a migrant through a series of compelling images.

Wed 25 Oct, 6.30-8pm (exhibition open to 6.30pm)
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe Street)
Bookings: 03 8664 7555 or learning@slv.vic.gov.au
Cost: free

Publish or Perish? The Future of Comics and Zines

A forum featuring contemporary comic and zine producers. From online and DIY to commercial publishing, how do they get their work out there? With alicia sometimes (Aural Text, Going Down Swinging), Bruce Mutard (Street Smell, The Bunker), Bernard Caleo (Cardigan Comics, Tango) and Luke Sinclair (Sticky), and moderated by zine editor and comic producer Adam Ford.

Thurs 26 Oct, 6.30-8.30pm
Venue: Experimedia
Bookings: 03 8664 7555 or learning@slv.vic.gov.au
Cost: free

Comics as Collectables

A free workshop for comic collectors, with Heroes & Villains curator Kevin Patrick, bookseller Mick Stone and librarian David Studham. Learn how to build and care for your collection, and bring your comics along for a free, informal valuation - you could be sitting on a treasure!

Sat 20 Jan, 2-4.30pm
Venue: Experimedia
Bookings: not required
Cost: free

Activities

Zap! Pow! Blog!

Meet leading Australian comic creators online in a unique three-day blog event. Guest bloggers include Trudy Cooper (Platinum Grit), Mandy Ord (Nosebleed), Tad Pietrzykowski (Dark Nebula) and Dillon Naylor (Batrisha, Da & Dill). Learn about their fabulous creations, their favourite comic heroes, and what inspires them. To join in, visit the Heroes & Villains exhibition page from 12 January 2007 and follow the links to Zap! Pow! Blog!

Fri 12-Sun 14 Jan, 12-7.30pm

The Comics Lounge

Relax in the Comics Lounge in Experimedia and sample a range of current Australian comics and graphic novels, CD-ROMs including Vintage Australian Comic Books, games such as Cyberswine, animations and sound files.

20 Oct-25 Feb (during Library hours)
Venue: Experimedia
Cost: free

I Need a Hero! Online Competition

We need a hero - so upload your own superhero images to this online competition. Acclaimed illustrator Doug Holgate (Laika, Flight) will comment on entries, choose the winners, and create the ‘ultimate superhero’ by combining the best features of selected entries. Prizes include $50 gift vouchers from Minotaur Books. To learn more and submit an entry, visit I Need a Hero! from 4 December.

Mon 4 Dec-Sun 4 Feb

Summer fun for kids

Draw Your Own Hero! (for ages 7-12)

Guided by a professional comic-book artist, children will create their own digital image of a comic superhero and upload it to the I Need a Hero online competition.

Mon 29-Wed 31 Jan, and Thurs 1-Fri 2 Feb; 10am-3.30pm
Venue: Meet in front foyer
Bookings: 03 8664 7555 or learning@slv.vic.gov.au
Cost: $40 per child

Drawing for Fun (for ages 7-12)

In this fun drawing workshop with a professional children’s book illustrator, children will be encouraged to explore their own thoughts and ideas with pencil in hand. (Materials supplied.)

Tues 23 & Thurs 25 Jan, 10.30am-12noon
Venue: Meet in front foyer
Bookings: 03 8664 7555 or learning@slv.vic.gov.au
Cost: $12

Extreme Cartooning (for ages 7-12)

In this exciting drawing workshop with a professional children’s book illustrator, children will experiment with drawing comic and cartoon characters. (Materials supplied.)

Tues 23 & Thurs 25 Jan, 1-3pm
Venue: Meet in front foyer
Bookings: 03 8664 7555 or learning@slv.vic.gov.au
Cost: $15