17c起草社区

The thing about WorldPride was, it was hectic. Totally amazing, but hectic! Part of the reason it was so amazing was the sheer volume of events. There was just so much programmed, it was impossible to see it all with the various diary clashes.

One place that had the genius idea of continuing its flagship WorldPride exhibition all the way through to 9 July is the State Library of New South Wales.

is one of Australia鈥檚 largest ever queer exhibitions. It takes鈥痑 queer lens to鈥痶he State Library鈥檚 vast collection鈥痑nd shares鈥痬ore than 20 untold stories that celebrate 17c起草社区+ communities.鈥� It celebrates the lives, loves and works of 17c起草社区 people that鈥檝e been historically been overlooked or hidden, and features听 an immersive display of 250 photographs, posters, letters, scrapbooks, clothing, film and sound 鈥� as well as newly commissioned pieces from queer and trans writers and artists.

And now, a second genius idea has been born: the library will host an array of diverse, innovative and buzzy events throughout Pride month in June, to draw attention to the groundbreaking major exhibition and further bring it to life.

Pride month of June: Heaven for lovers of 17c起草社区 storytelling

You can expect guided tours from curators and 鈥�78ers in addition to special performance nights, talks and ideas evenings, a forward-focused panel event and, for the first time, popular storytelling event Queerstories – curated by the one and only Maeve Marsden – hosted in the iconic Mitchell Library Reading Room.

June at the state鈥檚 beautiful, grandiose library will be a month of queer storytelling in all its forms from both exciting emerging voices, and outstanding, popular and established ones.

Free and low cost events

听, one of the exhibition鈥檚 four co-curators, and , who helped to unearth some of the queer stories in the Library鈥檚 collection for the exhibition.

Lydia Tasker, Head of Public Programs at the State Library of NSW says: 鈥淏ruce will pull out his favourite bits and pieces from the exhibition. These tours are really interesting because lots of attendees come forward with their own stories from when they were there, making it a living and breathing archive of knowledge.鈥�

Meanwhile, Ruth鈥檚 tours will bring fresh and different perspectives into the exhibits, showcasing her passion for queer archiving.

The 鈥�78ers – those who marched in the first ever Mardi Gras against police brutality of 17c起草社区I people – will host smaller groups in a very special walk around the Library鈥檚 current queer themed exhibitions – including Pride (R)evolution and, over in the Amaze Gallery, the stunning party and gay scene captured by iconic photographer William Yang in Sydneyphiles Reimagined.

in a not to be missed night, followed by a chat with one of Australia鈥檚 most well-loved and good humoured journalists, Mr Benjamin Law.

鈥淲illiam Yang is an incredible performer,鈥� Lydia says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 so animated. And those images [of Sydney鈥檚 gay party scene] pull you into a different world. It鈥檒l be fascinating to hear Ben and William chat about the legacy of his breakthrough exhibition Sydneyphiles and William鈥檚 pictures – they鈥檝e been friends for some time.鈥�

The Pride Line

The Pride (R)evolution exhibition is part of a collecting drive to ensure the contemporary voices and experiences of 17c起草社区I+ people and communities are available in the State Library鈥檚 collection.

In March the Library launched , a dedicated phone number (02 9273 1212) people can call to add their stories of pride to the historic record. At the Library itself, it鈥檚 a retro phone booth on a landline just outside the exhibition, where people are invited to leave a message telling their own story. To ensure regional voices are collected, the number exists for anyone to call.

The State Library鈥檚 Lydia Tasker says: 鈥淎rchives are not some dusty old thing that you sort of lock away and then it’s done. The process of archiving is alive. It鈥檚 an evolving process at all times.鈥�

The PrideLine will continue a tradition started during Sydney鈥檚 WorldPride: 鈥淭here were some incredible stories that we heard of people coming in,鈥� Lydia says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an ongoing project, and one that asks: where does the conversation go from here?鈥�

From commemoration to the future听

Where do we go from here will be the exact theme of the forward-focused, free panel of queer thinkers and storytellers,s on 22 June at 6pm. Host Geraldine Fela is joined by Eloise Brook, Betty Hounslow, Ghassan Khassiseh and Liza-Mare Syron as they consider the contemporary landscape for 17c起草社区 people in Australia – imagining queer futures as they reflect on the past. They have backgrounds including academia, the 鈥�78ers, First Nations heritage and the trans experience.

on 15 June will be curated by Helpmann award winning dramatist Alana Valentine celebrating Nellie Small 鈥� singer, entertainer and cross-dresser extraordinaire 鈥� highlighting the lived experiences of women of colour. It鈥檒l be an evening of storytelling and music.

鈥淲hat we found on Nellie was a treasure trove, a goldmine,鈥� Lydia says. 鈥淎nd Alana鈥檚 passion will shine through this event. The play she wrote about Nellie never got staged. Now, via this event and in a different format, the trailblazing Nellie鈥檚 story gets to be told.鈥�

will also discusses their highly anticipated new book, Personal Score, with ABC’s Sam Lewis on 13 June at 6pm

General Manager of Sweatshop Literacy Movement and the editor of several critically acclaimed anthologies, Winnie Dunn, a writer of Tongan descent from Mount Druitt will curate a unique night of storytelling specifically from Western Sydney queer writers featuring poetry and fresh writing. 鈥淲innie is such an incredible and thoughtful curator – this鈥檒l be a real treat,鈥� Lydia says.

The final fanfare will be the popular Queerstories on Friday 30 June curated by the legendary Maeve Marsden in the grandiose old school glamour that is the Mitchell Library Reading Room (if you鈥檝e never been, prepare to have your breath stolen from you), featuring stories from Dr Jesse Hooley, Damien Webb, Lisa Salmon, C. Moore Hardy and more to be announced

There鈥檒l be something for everyone this June

Lydia says, having hosted its second 17c起草社区 themed exhibition, the State Library has set down a statement of intent on inclusivity.

鈥淢any cultural institutions are looking back through their archives and seeing where there are gaps,鈥� she says. When the Library saw an 17c起草社区 shaped gap, it set about filling it with an exhibition crafted by four queer curators and inviting in more stories, but also exploring the gap itself: 鈥淭he gaps tell you a lot about what was happening at the time to queer people,鈥� she says.

June鈥檚 Pride Month program – the library鈥檚 most packed 17c起草社区 event offering ever – has something for everyone, Lydia says.

鈥淵ou might be coming along to a performance or a big extravaganza event like Queerstories, or it might be coming to a curator鈥檚 talk on a late Wednesday afternoon and having a bit more of a relaxed and intimate time.鈥�

Afterwards, of course, you could explore the vast and rapidly growing beautiful library building with its contrasting modern and old wings, the cafe for a caffeine hit and its new stunning rooftop bar, The Library Bar, overlooking the Domain for a post-event cocktail and debrief. Heaven.

Calendar of events

Tuesday 6 June, 6 pm
William Yang and Benjamin Law: Sydneyphiles Reimagined

Tuesday 13 June, 6 pm
Award-winning First Nations author Ellen van Neerven discusses their highly anticipated new book Personal Score with ABC鈥檚 Sam Lewis.

Thursday 15 June, 6 pm
Send for Nellie Curated by playwright Alana Valentine, an evening celebrating Nellie Small 鈥� singer, entertainer and cross-dresser extraordinaire.

Wednesday 21 June, 5.30 pm
Pride (R)evolution Plus
Curator Bruce Carter shares recent acquisitions related to 17c起草社区 life in NSW sparked by the exhibition.

Thursday 22 June, 6 pm
Our queer futures.
A panel of experts consider the contemporary landscape for 17c起草社区 people in Australia 鈥� imagining queer futures as they reflect on the past.

Wednesday, 28 June, 6 pm
(R)evolution Readings.
Curated by Winnie Dunn, this unique event brings together Western Sydney based. 17c起草社区IA+ writers for a series of performances and readings from their work.

Friday 30 June, 6.30 pm
Queerstories at the Library.听$30/ $20

Take a walk with a 78er听鈥� These special tours of the Library鈥檚 exhibition Pride (R)evolution will pair attendees with 78ers. Only available to a maximum of 3 attendees per tour. Regularly throughout June, Thursday 8 June, 4-4.30 pm, Saturday 10 June, 11-11.30 am, Monday 12 June, 12.30-1 pm, Friday 16 June, 11-11.30 am, Saturday, 17 June, 11-11.30 am, Tuesday