Go for gold at the National Library this July! Highlights include our new exhibition, Grit & Gold: Tales from a Sporting Nation, a panel discussion unpacking the last 30 years of rugby league in Australia, school holiday creative writing workshops with local authors, and a lecture from one of our National Library Fellows.
Program
- Grit & Gold: Tales from a Sporting Nation
On now until Sunday 5 November 2023 | 9am to 5pm | Exhibition media release
Every weekend sporting contests around the country generate stories that we tell and retell. ‘What an amazing catch!’; ‘I can’t believe that come back!’; ‘The crowd is going wild!’. Some stories go on to become part of the nation’s popular imagination.
Grit & Gold: Tales from a Sporting Nation explores some of the stories that have brought joy, sorrow and everything in between to every Australian household (and sports pub) on game day and beyond.
A selection of Emma McKeon’s gold medals from various Olympic and Commonwealth Games; the outfit worn by Ash Barty during her victorious 2021 Wimbledon campaign; an autographed cricket bat used by Don Bradman; the ‘State of Origin’ shield awarded from 1980 to 1991 depicting Brett Kenny and Wally Lewis; and an Olympic torch from the Sydney 2000 Olympics are among the highlights on display.
Join us in this tribute to sporting stars and local heroes as we race down memory lane. This is an exhibition for anyone who has stood on the sidelines cheering on their children or in a grandstand supporting their favourite team.
- Publishing the anti-colonial struggle with Dr Angélique Stastny
Thursday 6 July | 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Join Dr Angélique Stastny as she presents a lecture on her 2021 National Library Fellowship research about anti-colonial activist publications in Australia and the Pacific.
- Lost Literature and Textual Technologies: Panel discussion and podcast launch
Sunday 9 July | 4pm to 7pm
Join us for the launch of the Australian National University’s (ANU) new podcast To Be Continued, uncovering lost literary fiction in Australian newspapers digitised by the National Library of Australia’s Trove. Hear from the people behind the podcast, along with live readings from their literary discoveries. Before the launch, Professor Katherine Bode and guests present a panel discussion exploring textual technologies and what might be done to better understand, challenge and redesign them for an age of artificial intelligence.
- ‘Played strong, done good’: Rugby league history panel
Tuesday 11 July | 6pm to 7pm
Join us for a conversation about the history of rugby league with Sia Soliola and Katrina Fanning, facilitated by Tim Gavel. This panel event will look at some of the changes and big milestones which have happened in professional rugby league over the last 30 years.
- School holiday activity: Creative writing workshop for young writers
Wednesday 12 July | 10am to 12pm
Young people aged 8 to 12 years of age are invited to join children’s book author Emma Allen for a creative writing workshop these school holidays.
- School holiday activity: Creative writing workshop for teen writers
Thursday 13 July | 10am to 12pm
Teenagers aged 12 to 18 years of age are invited to join author Jack Heath for a creative writing workshop these school holidays.
- Celebrate with Friends
Friday 21 July | 6pm to 8pm | This is a Friends of the National Library event open to Friends and non-members.
Join us for a glass of bubbles, live music and hear from two of our curators about their three favourite things in the Treasures Gallery. This is a wonderful chance for new Friends members to mingle – bring a Friend or make a new one!
See the full list of what’s currently on at the Library: https://www.nla.gov.au/whats-on
