From 23 August to 19 October, Ballarat will once again transform into a sprawling city of stories as the Ballarat International Foto Biennale returns with its most ambitious program yet. Presented by Intrepid Travel, this year’s theme — Lifeforce — sets the tone for a dynamic eight-week celebration of creativity, resilience, and artistic energy.
“There is a life force in all of us – a spark that compels us to create, to connect, to capture the world around us,” says Artistic Director and CEO Vanessa Gerrans. “This year’s Biennale honours that energy with a program that is dynamic, provocative and deeply moving.”
Among the blockbuster exhibitions are I ❤ Campbell by fashion photographer Campbell Addy at the Mining Exchange, and the Australian exclusive Enninful x Mapplethorpe at the Post Office Gallery — a powerful curatorial moment from Edward Enninful OBE. The world premiere of Catherine Leroy: One Way Ticket to Vietnam 1966–1968 offers an unflinching look at war through a fearless female lens.
Public art once again spills across laneways, streets and civic spaces — from the shimmering Mumu Mirri moth sculpture by Dr Deanne Gilson and Dave Jones, to the emergent voices of High Exposure and GradFoto. With over 360 artists across 100+ venues, it’s art with no fixed address.
Workshops, live talks, late-night line dancing, and even a scored screening of The Passion of Joan of Arc ensure this year’s Biennale has something for everyone.
This isn’t just an art festival. It’s a living, breathing conversation.
Plan your journey at ballaratfoto.org.
