Ballarat will house Australia’s leading photographic destination.
Ahead of next weeks state budget, it’s been revealed that the Andrews Labor Government will establish a National Centre for Photography in Ballarat in a major Budget boost that will attract visitors, support jobs and strengthen the city’s standing as a leading cultural hub.
The Victorian Budget 2020/21 will invest $6.7 million to create the new centre within the 1860’s Union Bank building in Lydiard Street South, which will sit proudly alongside the Ballarat Art Gallery and the Post Office Gallery in what is fast becoming an iconic arts precinct for the city.
The National Centre for Photography will be Australia’s leading photographic destination and will bring to life the vision of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, featuring state-of-the-art gallery spaces for major temporary exhibitions, opportunities for community artists to exhibit and a dedicated photobook library.
In line with Ballarat’s Creative City Strategy, the centre will be multi-functional – allowing for educational workshop spaces and an artist-in-residence program.
Its curated public and education program will have the potential to attract thousands of new visitors to Ballarat, alongside a number of local, domestic and international artists through innovative year-round programming and international networking and collaboration based on the hugely successful Ballarat International Foto Biennale event.
Providing a massive boost to Ballarat economically, the project is estimated to generate $75.7 million across the next 15 years, bringing more than 54,000 visitors over two years.
“The Ballarat International Foto Biennale is one of Victoria’s iconic regional events and the National Centre for Photography will allow it to contribute to Ballarat’s economy and jobs strength year-round,” says Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula.
“We want Victorians to get out and enjoy our state by taking their holidays in regional Victoria – that’s why we’re backing landmark regional institutions like this.”
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