THE Radical Hope Machine 2 has landed in Caloundra, inviting the Sunshine Coast community to imagine bold futures through storytelling, creativity and shared experience.
Set inside the brand-new Library+, the immersive installation presents a parallel world where the Radical Hope Machine has crash-landed on Earth, fusing future technology with everyday objects.
Magical clothing, audio storytelling and sculptural forms weave together to create an exhibition trail uncovering local stories hidden in the nooks and crannies between bookshelves.
Co-created with the Sunshine Coast community, Radical Hope Machine 2 explores everyday moments of cultural life through the lens of hope, curiosity and imagination.
Visitors are encouraged to wander, listen and reflect, discovering short stories recorded by professional voice artists and inspired by local voices.
A series of free public workshops in March invites people of all ages and experience levels to contribute.
The Emerging Writers Program offers aspiring and early-career writers the chance to develop new work alongside award-winning author Peter Carnavas, with selected stories recorded and featured in the final installation as part of Horizon Festival 2026.
The Everybody Workshop welcomes participants to drop in, experiment with words and record super-short stories on the spot in Library+’s new digital makerspace.
Meanwhile, the Collage Workshop with artist Sarah Winters invites the community to design bold cardboard forms, which will be transformed into larger-than-life sculptural elements for the exhibition.
Together, these workshops ensure Radical Hope Machine 2 reflects the diversity, creativity and collective imagination of the Sunshine Coast.
All workshops are free, with limited places available.www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/whats-on/radical-hope-machine-2