Story Wall @ SLSA – Permanent Architectural Projection

Pioneering Permanent Projection

Story Wall (2015-2020) was the world’s first permanent projection by a cultural institution — and it set a new benchmark. Since then, illuminart has delivered dozens of permanent installations across Australia.

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The Story Behind the Wall

The Story Wall at the State Library of South Australia, designed by illuminart and commissioned in 2015, was an interactive, permanent projection installation that played every night of the year.

The concept — taking the Library from inside to outside — was devised by the Library in response to projection events. It connected the Library and its collections with people of all ages, including many who may not have been aware of it previously.

Officially launched by Director Alan Smith and the Hon. Jack Snelling MP (Minister for the Arts) in November 2015, it ran until March 2020, when it was closed due to the pandemic.

Development of the permanent projection system by illuminart occurred in phases:

• Stage one featured nightly scheduled loops, featuring dozens of short stories that showcased the collections and curators’ insights.

• Stage two introduced an interactive kiosk, enabling the public to choose from over 50 stories — helping the team learn which stories resonated most

Each night, when the Library closed, the Forecourt came alive with stories, characters, and hidden gems, projected onto the exterior of the Institute Building. The interactive interface enabled visitors to choose stories drawn exclusively from the Library’s collections, exhibitions, and treasures.

Though decommissioned during COVID, the Story Wall concept lives on — with the Library Forecourt reactivated through festivals like Illuminate Adelaide, continuing the spirit of outdoor storytelling in new ways.

I’m delighted to see this innovative exhibition experience at the Library, the first of its kind on any cultural institution in Australia. All the content you see on the Story Wall is from our collections and showcases the richness of our State’s history in such a unique and creatively engaging way.

Alan Smith, director SLSA