Obsession, intimacy and the stories we keep: Salon After D’Arc returns to State Library Victoria

State Library Victoria’s acclaimed after-hours conversation series Salon After D’Arc returns in 2026 with 4 thought-provoking evenings exploring the forces that shape how we love, remember and make meaning.

Hosted by bestselling author and broadcaster Jamila Rizvi, the series brings together writers, artists and thinkers in an intimate salon setting that blends contemporary ideas with the State Collection.

Delivered as part of State Library Victoria’s 170th anniversary year, Salon After D’Arc 2026 invites audiences to consider not only the stories we inherit, but those still being written, and whose voices are brought to the forefront.

Generously supported by the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and featuring collection items acquired through the Women Writers Fund, Salon After D’Arc evokes the salons of yesteryear, with a unique blend of panel discussion, live experimentation and special collection viewings.

The Women Writers Fund was established by co-founders Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Helen Sykes to redress the historical underrepresentation of women authors in the Library’s rare books collection and is supported by the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.

This year’s series unfolds across 2 distinct thematic arcs – Love and Memory – each explored through 2 Salons that bring contemporary ideas into dialogue with the Library’s historic collection. The series opens on 17 June with Fever Dreams, an exploration of obsession, desire and cultural fixation. Dr Hannah McCann will examine Taylor Swift fandom through an academic lens, exploring celebrity fixation as a form of identity and belonging, while comedian and writer Aurelia St Clair turns her attention to internet obsessions and algorithmic culture. Comedian and writer Rosie Waterland joins Jamila Rizvi in conversation to unpack whether reality television is ‘that deep’, exploring identity, feminism and belonging through the lens of pop culture.

Then, on 15 July The Gift of Heartbreak examines heartbreak not as melodrama, but as a deeply human experience that reshapes us emotionally, physically and creatively. Artist and academic Drew Pettifer will journey through the history of heartbreak and his Rebel Heart work responding to the story of Captain Moonlight, while artist and content creator Celeste Mountjoy explores heartbreak as a creative force. Dr Michelle Lim, CEO and Scientific Chair, Ending Loneliness Together, will join Jamila Rizvi in conversation, examining loneliness as one of today’s key social, health and economic challenges.

In August and September, the series shifts to memory with 2 additional Salons exploring the forces that shape how we remember, forget and preserve personal and collective stories, with guest speakers, subject matter and tickets to be announced soon.

Salon After D’Arc 2026 host, Jamila Rizvi, says, ‘I’m so excited to be back hosting Salon After D’Arc. It’s rare to find a series that values both intellect and intimacy – where you can explore big ideas about love, memory and identity while feeling genuinely connected to the people in the room.’

Now in its 4th year, Salon After D’Arc continues to attract a growing audience of culturally curious Victorians seeking thoughtful, engaging conversation in one of the city’s most iconic destinations.

Each event runs from 7.30–9pm in the Library’s Conversation Quarter, with a special collection viewing from 7pm.

Tickets for the opening 2 events are on sale now. For more information, visit the State Library Victoria website.