Ballarat International Foto Biennale

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale was founded in 2005 and attracts significant International and Australian photographers as one of Australia’s pre-eminent photographic festivals. It is a not-for-profit event that immerses the historic town of Ballarat in photographic art. The CORE PROGRAM exhibits at the beautiful Art Gallery of Ballarat, The Mining Exchange, the Minerva Room, The Observatory, Post Office Gallery and the Town Hall. The FRINGE PROGRAM is staged at more than 80 cafes, galleries and wine bars across Ballarat, providing the launch pad for hundreds of new and emerging artists. The Biennale is guided by the principle that it not only serves the community but also plays a vital role in cultivating it. It strives to engage the local community with creative and courageous programming. In its 11 year history, the Foto biennale has attracted more than 150,000 visitors to Ballarat and was honored at the Ballarat 2016 Australia Day Awards as the Community Activity of the Year. The vision for this year’s Biennale raises the bar, with more events and chances for audiences to engage with the photographic image in all its forms – from established to amateur. Our 2017 program, with special events planned for all five weekends, is expected to attract an attendance of over 50,000 people. We encourage you to plan your stay early, stay long enough to stroll Ballarat’s charming streets and engage deeply with the photographic image. We will present the world on our doorstep – celebrating and creating a shared, exciting perspective of how we see our surrounds, our community and ourselves.