State Library of Queensland has announced a new cultural partnership with artisan, the state’s peak body for craft and design, establishing the library as a creative hub for Queensland’s craft and design community.
Through this partnership, artisan will be headquartered at State Library, working across Queensland to support emerging, developing, and established practitioners. The collaboration brings together a major cultural institution and a leading contemporary craft organisation, creating new opportunities for professional development, collaboration, and sector-wide impact.
Key initiatives delivered through the partnership include public programs such as seminars, masterclasses, talks, and workshops, alongside statewide collaborations with regional partners. These will include exhibitions, residencies, markets, pop-ups, and career development opportunities for makers.
The partnership will also position Queensland within the national craft and design sector, with artisan hosting MADE2026, a cross-sector symposium bringing together practitioners and leaders from across Australia in September. In addition, a curated retail presence in the Library Shop will showcase contemporary Queensland craft and design to local and international audiences.
As a cultural social enterprise, artisan supports sustainable career pathways while elevating Queensland makers to national and international prominence. This partnership strengthens that mission by connecting practitioners with wider audiences and embedding craft and design within the heart of the Queensland Cultural Centre.
With more than 1.6 million visitors annually, State Library continues to be a place for learning, creativity, and connection. The collaboration extends further through the State Library’s network of more than 325 public library communities across Queensland, increasing access to craft engagement statewide.
State Library of Queensland and artisan are supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
