Library and Brickman unite to create State Library Bricktoria

This summer, State Library Victoria will become State Library Bricktoria when it plays host to an array of LEGO^®-inspired activities in partnership with The Brickman, Australia’s only LEGO^® Certified Professional, from Monday 10 January until Sunday 6 February 2022.

The program invites Library enthusiasts and lovers of the bright little bricks to rediscover the Library through a series of vibrant events and experiences.

Highlights include watching The Brickman’s team build a two-by-one metre LEGO^® brick model of the Library; taking a treasure hunt through the Library to collect six bespoke LEGO^® brick builds to create a take-home memento; adding bricks to the massive Mystery Mosaics image; an adults-only Bricks & Beats party and the chance to meet The Brickman himself.

Developed in close collaboration between The Brickman and the Library team, the activities are designed to inspire curiosity and collaboration, as well as guide participants through the Library’s spaces, learning about the building’s history and secrets along the way.

State Library Victoria Acting CEO, Sarah Slade, said she’s thrilled to present such a colourful program to Victorians this summer.

“Throughout its 165-year history, State Library Victoria has always sought to inspire learning and creativity. You can come into the Library searching for one thing, which leads you to another and another. We have over five million items in the collection which often leads you down a veritable rabbit hole of research,” Ms Slade said.

“Playing with LEGO^® bricks invites a similar kind of curiosity – you start with one piece and you never know where that may lead. You could end up with a multi-story police station, a farm, or a Library! So it’s with great excitement that we are partnering with The Brickman to bring such a colourful program of events to Melbourne this summer.

“It’s been a tough couple of years for all of us in Victoria, and we are so excited to welcome Victorians back to the city and back to the Library.”

LEGO^® Certified Professional, Ryan "The Brickman" McNaught said the Library is the perfect place for his next project.

“It’s no secret that I am incredibly passionate about making things out of LEGO^® bricks. So, to be able to share my passion with thousands of Victorians just as we emerge from lockdown is really exciting,” The Brickman said.

“This program of events and activities will spark the imagination of the young and the young-at-heart. There is something for everyone, so no matter where you live or how old you are, this is the perfect opportunity to come and explore, create and play, to discover the Library through a whole new lens – and share in my love of these brightly coloured bricks.”

For more information go to slv.vic.gov.au

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About State Library Victoria
Established in 1854 as the Melbourne Public Library, State Library Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library and one of the first free libraries in the world. As the custodian of Victoria’s history, each year the library adds more than 70,000 physical and digital items to its rich collection of articles, artworks, photographs, manuscripts, books, journals, artefacts and much more. In 2021, the Library launched a new membership program offering tailored benefits to families, students and culture lovers alongside its flagship free Access membership.

About The Brickman
Ryan ‘The Brickman’ McNaught is a LEGO^® Certified Professional, one of only 14 in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. In 2019 he joined Channel Nine’s new hit TV show LEGO Masters Australia as the main competition judge alongside host Hamish Blake. Originally from the corporate world, a Chief Information Officer, Ryan’s creativity was limited and bound by the constraints of his job, however the ability to express and create through a unique medium offered him an amazing opportunity; the ability to create something that both children and adults alike can be inspired by.