Public Program, State Library of Victoria
NOV 30 - DEC 03, 2023

A live public participatory installation in the Creative Space on the main floor of the library, that invited a ‘Lived Experience’ of Braille, through the rich languages of poetry and braille. Participants were invited to sit with artist Leisa Shelton and Braillist Marisa Sposaro, read a poem of their choosing, and witness it being transcribed into Braille and Typed Print in real time.

Each day the publicly curated poems were bound into hand sewn books for public reading and alongside these handmade books, there was a significant collection of contemporary Australian poetry brought together through partnerships with independent publishers of poetry including VAGABOND, GIRAMONDO, BLACKInc AND FORTY SOUTH.

Extending from our reading corners was the ‘poets in residence’ program with live readings each day from Melbourne Poets - Emilie Collyer, Andy Jackson and Ren Alessandra. The program was designed to offer a week of immersion into the extraordinary languages of poetry and braille and the diverse communities surrounding them, AND create greater advocacy for Braille to be made more visible within our libraries and public spaces. Currently no public library in Victoria has works in Braille. 

[In]visible Libraries was also the first project produced by the State Library to include Audio Description with a live describer present for the poetry readings and to offer individual guided descriptions of the installation across the day. This bespoke program was designed by the team of the project and is a model we hope will continue into future projects and exhibitions at the State Library.

Thank you to the partners that made the project possible; Creative Australia, City of Melbourne and State Library of Victoria Fellowship Program. You can read more about the Fellowship via the ABC article HERE and read reflections from the Poets in Residence via  NOTEBOOK.