What's on

Looking for something fun to do, with a cultural twist? Take a look at our events and exhibitions! We host all kinds of talks, workshops, films, guided tours and more, for audiences across all age groups, including families. Our events help you get to know our amazing collections and tell the story of Victoria's history. Many events – including our exhibitions – are free.

Featured events & exhibitions

bookings required

Tuesday, 26 February 2019 - 6:00pm–7:00pm

2019 Foxcroft Lecture: unseen art of the First Fleet

Thursday, 29 November 2018–Saturday, 30 November 2019

World of the book

Saturday, 1 December 2018 - 10:00am–Sunday, 1 December 2019 - 6:00pm

Peter Wille: Out driving

bookings required

Thursday, 7 February 2019 - 6:00pm–7:30pm

Clement Meadmore and the modernist wave

bookings required

Wednesday, 16 January 2019 - 2:00pm–4:30pm

School holiday film screening: The wizard of Oz

All events & exhibitions

08 March 2018–19 January 2020

Self-made: zines and artist books

Discover the evolution of do-it-yourself publishing in this free exhibition of fanzines, punk zines, underground press publications and artist books designed to buck the commercial gallery system.

Cost: Free

touring exhibition

Daily

Cowen Gallery exhibition

The newly curated Cowen Gallery exhibition showcases works from the Library’s paintings collection, exploring regional and urban themes.

Cost: Free

Daily

World of the book

Explore a world of ideas and imagination in this exhibition showcasing the history of book design, production and illustration.

Cost: Free

Daily

The changing face of Victoria

Visit a remarkable free exhibition that tells the stories of the people, places and events that have shaped Victoria.

Cost: Free

01 December 2018, 10:00am–01 December 2019, 6:00pm

Peter Wille: Out driving

Explore this new permanent exhibition which features images of Melbourne's architectural wonders throughout the 1950's and 1960's.

Cost: Free

Daily

'World of the book' tour

Visit the magnificent domed La Trobe Reading Room and see highlights of the 'World of the book' exhibition on this free tour.

Cost: Free

10 December 2018, 2:00pm

'Changing face of Victoria' tour

Visit the La Trobe Reading Room and see highlights of the 'Changing face of Victoria' exhibition in this free guided tour.

Cost: Free

11 December 2018, 6:00pm–8:00pm

2019 YA Showcase

Hear direct from publishers, editors and publicists on concepts and covers for the year ahead.

Cost: $25 per ticket

booked out

12 December 2018, 1:00pm

Ned Kelly tour

Discover the story of Victoria’s infamous bushranger Ned Kelly in this free guided tour running every Wednesday and Saturday, except public holidays.

Cost: Free

bookings required

07 January 2019, 1:30pm

Dome to catacomb tour

Sneak a peek behind the scenes at the iconic State Library and roam the building from top to bottom in this tour.

Cost: Free

bookings required

15 January 2019, 10:15am–11:15am

Newspapers and family history introduction tour

Find out more about the Newspapers and Family History Reading Rooms.

Cost: Free

bookings required

16 January 2019, 2:00pm–4:30pm

School holiday film screening: The wizard of Oz

Dress up as your favourite character at this special school holiday screening of The Wizard of Oz.

Cost: Free

bookings required

22 January 2019, 4:00pm–5:00pm

Pop–up stories at MPavilion

Share the delight of stories, songs, rhymes and creative activities with Library staff at the MPavilion.

Cost: Free

bookings required

24 January 2019, 2:00pm–4:00pm

School holiday film screening: Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory

Dress up as your favourite character at this special school holiday screening of Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory.

Cost: Free

bookings required

07 February 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk: Canton to Castlemaine – Chinese miners in Victoria

Explore the world of Chinese miners on the Victorian goldfields.

Cost: Free

bookings required

07 February 2019, 6:00pm–7:30pm

Clement Meadmore and the modernist wave

Hear from artists, designers, collectors and dealers as they reflect on Clement Meadmore’s enduring impact on Australian design.

Cost: Free

bookings required

12 February 2019, 3:00pm–3:30pm

Curator talk: Peter Wille: Out driving

Join us for this special curator floor talk exploring the work and legacy of amateur photographer and architectural draftsman, Peter Wille.

Cost: Free

bookings required

15 February 2019, 11:00am–12:30pm

VCE Top Talks

Maxine McKew leads this Ted Talks-style event, where past, current and future VCE students inspire each other.

Cost: Free

bookings required

19 February 2019, 6:00pm–7:30pm

2019 Fellowships information evening

Find out more about our annual fellowships.

Cost: Free

26 February 2019, 6:00pm–7:00pm

2019 Foxcroft Lecture: unseen art of the First Fleet

Hear Louise Anemaat, author and executive director at the State Library of NSW deliver her lecture on rare botanical and zoological drawings dating from the 1790s.

Cost: Free

bookings required

28 February 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk: The medieval art of dying

Join this special talk on the medieval art of dying, presented by State Library curators

Cost: Free

booked out

08 April 2019–10 April 2019

School holiday program: Story Camp

Meet and learn from some of Australia's most exciting and inspiring storytellers in a free school holiday workshop for 12- to 15-year-olds.

Cost: Free (eligibility criteria apply)

What's on

Featured events & exhibitions

2019 Foxcroft Lecture: unseen art of the First Fleet

World of the book

Peter Wille: Out driving

Clement Meadmore and the modernist wave

School holiday film screening: The wizard of Oz

Filter events by date

Filter by event type

Filter by cost

All events & exhibitions

Self-made: zines and artist books

Cowen Gallery exhibition

World of the book

The changing face of Victoria

Peter Wille: Out driving

'World of the book' tour

'Changing face of Victoria' tour

2019 YA Showcase

Ned Kelly tour

Dome to catacomb tour

Newspapers and family history introduction tour

School holiday film screening: The wizard of Oz

Pop–up stories at MPavilion

School holiday film screening: Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory

Dome at Dusk: Canton to Castlemaine – Chinese miners in Victoria

Clement Meadmore and the modernist wave

Curator talk: Peter Wille: Out driving

VCE Top Talks

2019 Fellowships information evening

2019 Foxcroft Lecture: unseen art of the First Fleet

Dome at Dusk: The medieval art of dying

School holiday program: Story Camp