This month we celebrate the launch of our new major exhibition Wangka Wakanutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre. The exhibition and landmark publication tell the remarkable story of the achievements of the Papunya community to record and teach their language and culture.

Visitors can also join special curator-led tours this month, held as part of the Canberra & Region Heritage Festival, and will have the opportunity to see some of Australia’s top authors and notable thinkers in conversation.

Program

Wangka Wakanutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre

From 4 April | Open daily 9:00am to 5:00pm | Free entry

Papunya is a remote Aboriginal community in the Western Desert region of the Northern Territory, and the birthplace of the internationally known Western Desert art movement. Between 1979 and 1990, the Papunya Literature Production Centre produced hundreds of Pintupi-Luritja bilingual books guided by the community’s Elders, among them pioneers of the Western Desert Art movement.

Visit the exhibition to explore the incredible literary and artistic significance of Papunya. 

Learn with the curators: Wangka Wakanutja

29 April | 12:30pm | Free

Join an online learning session with members of the curatorium from the Papunya community and experts who bought the exhibition to life.

Author talk: The Titanic Story of Evelyn by Lisa Wilkinson AM

30 April | 6:00pm | $26-$30

Canberra Writers Festival presents renowned author and journalist Lisa Wilkinson AM in conversation about her new book. Evelyn Marsden was the only Australian-born survivor of the Titanic disaster. Exhaustively researched and beautifully written, Wilkinson’s first work of historical non-fiction uncovers Evelyn’s remarkable and uniquely Australian journey. 

Echoes of the long paddock: A folksong celebration

1 April | 6.00pm | Free

This special concert performance salutes the Library’s 70th anniversary as custodian of Australia's folksong heritage and oral history collections. Legendary singers Martyn Wyndham-Read and Warren Fahey AM, accompanied by musicians Marcus Holden and Garry Steel, will join distinguished historian Bill Gammage AM to celebrate some of the highlights of the collection.

Concertina Book Workshop with Sharon Peoples

22 April | 10:00am | $35-$40

Learn how to make keepsake concertina books with acclaimed local artist Sharon Peoples. Presented by the Friends of the National Library.

Landslide: The 2025 Australian federal election

16 April | 6:00pm | Free

Veteran journalist Nick Bryant will be in conversation with Associate Professor Jill Sheppard to discuss this new book from ANU Press. Presented in partnership with the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.

The audiobook's evolution from the analog era to AI

23 April | 6:00pm | Free

Does listening count as reading? Should narrators perform? Can audiobooks do more than imitate printed ones? Professor Matthew Rubery discusses the six stages of development of the audiobook. Presented in partnership with the Centre of Australian Literary Cultures, Australian National University.

School holiday activity: Creative journaling for beginners

15 April | 10:30am | $15

Our Education team presents a workshop for young people exploring techniques and ideas for creative journaling. All materials and light refreshments supplied.

Curator tours: Treasures Gallery

14 April & 28 April | 10:00am | Free

Join a special curator-led tour of the Library’s Treasures Gallery held as part of the Canberra & Region Heritage Festival.

Australia's Naval Alliances: John Seymour and Hugh White

7 April | 6:00pm | Free

In the 1920s and 1930s Australia entrusted its security to Britain's Royal Navy. In 1941 that proved to be a big mistake. Are we making the same mistake now with America and AUKUS? John Seymour launches his new book Australia’s Naval Alliances: Lessons of History.

Early Philippine Palaeontology with Dr Paulina Basilia

30 April | 12:30pm | Free

Dr Pauline Basilia presents her recent Fellowship research on the contributions of H. Otley Beyer to Philippine Pleistocene research.

Story Dogs on Sunday

26 April | 11:00am | Free, no bookings required

Drop in on the last Sunday of every month for a paw-sitive reading experience with trained volunteers and their accredited dogs. 

Plan your visit

We’re continuing to make improvements to our much-loved heritage building. Find everything you need to know before you visit via our website.

Media enquiries

Lauren Conron, Media Liaison, National Library of Australia

Phone: 0401 226 697

Email: media@nla.gov.au