What's On
Exhibitions
2025 Photography Exhibition
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See the work of some of WA's best photographers from 2025. Spanning a range of styles and subjects, this exhibition showcases the winners and finalists of the third annual awards.
Country Sees Us
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An immersive exhibition centred around newly recorded video oral histories of Menang Elders and a large-scale visual meditation on the Kinjarling/Albany landscape.
41 Years on the Streets
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An exhibition reflecting on the magazine’s cultural impact and legacy. From humble beginnings as a small but plucky guide to Perth’s nightlife, the magazine became a highly influential bible for all things music, art, fashion, food and drink in Perth.
Early Works of Children's Authors & Illustrators
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Juvenilia is work produced by an author or artist while they were a child. This exhibition showcases the juvenilia of Australian children’s authors and illustrators and their early endeavours at storytelling.
Student Exhibition
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More than 250 students from four WA schools worked alongside creative professionals to explore vaping culture and misinformation through drawings, lyrics, sculpture, poetry, documentaries and digital media.
Upcoming Events
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A cosy space to read the current and past shortlisted books of the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards.
for Bright Young Things
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Five days of theatre, music, visual arts, storytelling, and hands-on creative experiences for children aged 0–12 and their families. See the events on at the State Library.
A Storytime Experience
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Daily on , 10am - 3pm until Sat 3 Oct 2026
Book Boogie is a bright, welcoming activation that invites children and their families into the magic of books through the art of contemporary clowning.
AWESOME Festival
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Daily, 10am - 3pm until Sat 3 Oct 2026
Storyteller and host extraordinaire Glenn Swift invites you to The Story Hub: a warm, welcoming space for stories, books, rhymes and literary events at The Story Place.
Practise English at the State Library
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Weekly on Tuesday and Wednesday, 1:30 - 2:30pm until Thu 31 Dec 2026
Join our English conversation groups, a friendly place to practise your language skills and make new friends.
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Monthly on the last Wednesday, 2 - 4pm until Wed 25 Nov 2026
Discover how to find out more about your kinship in a joint presentation from the Storylines team and the Aboriginal History WA team.
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Weekly on Monday, 10:30am - 12pm until Mon 14 Dec 2026
Interactive story fun for pre-schoolers and their carers. Followed by a half hour Play Time where families can explore literacy and learning through reading, talking, singing, writing and playing together.
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Weekly on Friday, 10:30am - 12pm until Fri 11 Dec 2026
Songs, rhymes and stories for babies and their families, followed by an hour of Play Time to help develop early literacy and learning skills.
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Monthly on the third Wednesday, 7:30 - 8:30pm until Wed 21 Oct 2026
Online digital book club. Every month, join author David Allan-Petale in conversation with a new author to discuss their book.
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Every 2 months on the second Tuesday, 5:30 - 6:30pm until Tue 17 Nov 2026
The Friends of Battye Inc. present a series of talks throughout the year on Western Australian historical topics. These talks are open to members and the wider community
Writing and publishing across cultural fault lines
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PEN Perth presents publisher and cultural leader Louise Adler in conversation with author and activist Sisonke Msimang to explore the pressures and possibilities facing writers, publishers and readers.
Getting started
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Every 3 months on the last Wednesday, 11am - 1pm until Wed 25 Nov 2026
Do you want to find out about your family history and don’t know where to start? Let us help you at one of our free and friendly talks at the State Library and we’ll show you.
Awards, Grants, Fellowships & Projects
Information on Battye Fellowships, Premier's Book Awards, scholarships and Library Board awards.
Find out about available community, public library and Better Beginnings Grants.
Physical exhibitions turned into virtual tours and digital exhibitions.