William Barton, Stephen Page, and Australian Haydn Ensemble will feature in the State Library of NSW’s 2025 program, one “filled with transformative storytelling, compelling events, and unforgettable experiences,” says State Librarian Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon.

“From the underground auditorium to the rooftop bar, and in partnership with the state’s leading festivals and creative organisations, we’re inviting audiences to interact with the Library’s extraordinary collections and spaces through literature, poetry, art, photography, history, music and performance.”

SLNSW’s 2025 beings with the exhibition PIX, a deep dive into the trailblazing, and slightly risqué, magazine that helped to launch photojournalism in Australia. The year also features Creative commissions from composer and yidaki player William Barton, Skye McIntosh (violinist and leader of Australian Haydn Ensemble, which will perform at the library in May), and Bangarra Dance Theatre co-founder Stephen Page. These collaborations will culminate in new major works premiering in 2026 to mark the Library’s 200th anniversary.

For more on the State Library of NSW’s 2025 program, visit this link.