2024 AWESOME International Arts Festival for Bright Young Things

Delve in to the State Library with AWESOME Festival and explore a world of storytelling and wonder. Check out the FREE Story Hub with Glenn Swift or head along to one of our artist workshops. Get spontaneous with James Foley, build a time capsule with Tracey Dembo, discover the Noongar seasons with Ebony Froome, or join in a multilingual experience in Sail Boat Home with the team from Company Bad. Plus Sensorium Theatre are back with their popular multi-sensory storytelling. 

It's all happening at the State Library this September school holidays!

The AWESOME Festival is presented annually in the Perth CBD with a variety of paid and free events. The Festival showcases a spectacular array of events including theatre, dance, early childhood activities, music, film, literature, visual arts and creative hands-on activities. AWESOME is committed to presenting high-quality, layered programming for children aged 0 – 12 and their families.

See the Awesome website for tickets and more information. 

Events at the State Library

FREE Story Hub

Storyteller and host extraordinaire Glenn Swift invites you to enjoy stories, books, rhymes and literature events in the Story Hub. Come and bask in the glorious glow of words and build and share stories.
Tue 24 – Sat 28 Sept, 10am – 3pm daily
The Story Place, Mezzanine Level
For All Ages
Free, no bookings required

Sensory Rhyme Time: Here is the Sea

An interactive, multi-sensory reading of popular children’s stories and rhymes through music and sensory play suitable for everyone with a broad range of access needs.
Wed 25 Sept, 9.30am & 11.30am
The Story Place, Mezzanine Level
For Ages 0 – 4
Book now 

Sensory Story Time

Featuring props for the audience to touch, smell, look at and listen to, join the team from Sensorium for a multi-sensory reading of Meg McKinlay and Kyle Hughes-Odgers Ten Tiny Things. 
Wed 25 Sept, 1.30pm 
The Story Place, Mezzanine Level
For Ages 4 – 8 
Book now 

Sail Boat Home: 내 집은 어디인가

All aboard! Join Captain Bobusang for an adventure overseas! One question, does anyone know the way home? This fun, interactive, and multilingual workshop performance aims to spark creative ideas, reflect on belonging, and develop powerful tools to work together.
Tue 24 & Wed 25 Sept, 10.30am daily
Geographe Room , Ground Floor
For Ages 4 – 8
Book now 

Make Your Own Time Capsule with Tracey Dembo

Join author Tracey Dembo to make a present for your future self to uncover in this creative and fun-filled workshop. Journey through the past, present and future as you make your own time capsule and enjoy Tracey and Lucinda Gifford’s book, This Book Is A Time Machine.
Tue 24 Sept, 1pm
Education Room, Mezzanine Level
For Ages 5 – 9 
Book now

Spontaneous Stories with James Foley

Bring your weirdest and wackiest ideas for stories, because we'll be mashing them up into the funniest Franken-tale you've ever heard - which James will illustrate, live. It’s a laugh-out-loud session where the kids are in charge! 
Thu 26 Sept, 10.30am & 12:30pm
Education Room, Mezzanine Level
For Ages 8 – 12 
Book now

Djinang Bonar Seeing Seasons with Ebony Froome

Journey through the six Noongar seasons in both English and Noongar language and learn to identify plants and animals that bloom and thrive in each season with author Ebony Froome.
Fri 27 Sept, 10.30am
The Story Place, Mezzanine Level
For Ages 8+
Book now