The Ballarat International Foto Biennale Inc (BIFB)[1] is a not-for-profit organisation. Held every two years, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale is a 60-day festival in Ballarat in regional Victoria, Australia.[2] that delivers a program of two major photographic exhibition streams: a curated Core Program showcasing significant domestic and international[3] artists and an Open Program that fosters the development of new artists. It is a member of the Asia Pacific Photoforums.[4]

History

Jeff Moorfoot OAM[5] was the first director of a photography festival that started in[6] Daylesford in 2007 which in 2009 moved to the Central Victorian regional city of Ballarat, where it has remained.

The current Artistic Director and CEO, appointed in 2016 is Fiona Sweet, founder of a Melbourne design agency and previously board member for Melbourne Fringe and Chamber Made Opera.[7]

In 2018 Sweet envisioned a centre for photographic excellence in Ballarat; she secured funding and is now also the Director at the National Centre for Photography, Australia’s newest and only regional gallery dedicated exclusively to photography.

COVID-19 impact

In 2021, opening of the Biennale was delayed by regional Victoria being in a COVID-19 lockdown. It was originally due to open on 28 August and run until October. After the regional lockdown was lifted on 10 September, the Biennale was then set to open on 15 September.[8] However, Ballarat was put into a local snap lockdown, its eighth lockdown, from 11:59 pm that same day for at least seven days. This was because the town had four recent COVID cases as well as "widespread" wastewater detections, and multiple exposure sites.[9]

Organisation

BIFB comprises two major exhibition programs including the Core Program, curated biennale exhibition of 20 leading Australian and international photographic artists, presented in eight heritage buildings in Ballarat. The Core Program is complemented by an open entry Fringe Program, a city‐wide presentation of over 200 artists staged in more than 80 venues including cafes and galleries, throughout project spaces, and across public sites.

These exhibitions are complemented by an Events Program that encourages an egalitarian interface with participation of the public and of photographic practitioners of all levels through its program of workshops, seminars, audio‐visual projections, master‐classes, artist floor‐talks, portfolio reviews, an education program and photographic competitions and prizes.[10][11]

In 2021, under the auspice of Photo2021 the 9th Ballarat International Foto Biennale scheduled a Linda McCartney retrospective.[12]

Impact

In 2017, Sweet's inaugural year as creative director, the Biennale drew an audience of over 26,800, contributing an economic benefit of $3.89 million to the local economy with American photographer and video director David LaChapelle as the headline artist.[13][14] In 2019 the Biennale drew more than 37,000 visitors, injecting $7.8 million into the city’s economy. Sweet successfully brought in Chinese 'concealment' artist Liu Bolin as the headliner, exhibiting his Camouflage series – highlighting critical works from the past 15 years of Bolin’s work.[15][16]

References

  1. ↑ "BALLARAT INTERNATIONAL FOTO BIENNALE". BALLARAT INTERNATIONAL FOTO BIENNALE.
  2. ↑ "Ballarat International Foto Biennale Ballarat central, VIC | Classes, Lessons and Workshops in Ballarat central | Reviews and Ratings". visitballarat.com.au. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  3. ↑ Corbet, D. (2013). National. Art Monthly Australia, (258), 56.
  4. ↑ "Festivals - Asia-Pacific PhotoFourm".
  5. ↑ "Jeff Moorfoot OAM, australian award, photography, Ballarat foto festival". Gael Newton Online. 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  6. ↑ http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/MAIN:Everything:SLV_VOYAGER1983884
  7. ↑ "BIFB rights a petty wrong". Inside Imaging. 2019-11-07. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  8. ↑ Stevens, Rhiannon (23 August 2021). "Ballarat International Foto Biennale delays opening while state in lockdown". ABC Ballarat. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  9. ↑ Peck, Jackson; Testa, Christopher (15 September 2021). "Ballarat to enter week-long lockdown as regional city records four cases". ABC Ballarat. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  10. ↑ "The egalitarian Ballarat International Foto Biennale celebrates 10 years - ABC Ballarat - Australian Broadcasting Corporation". abc.net.au. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  11. ↑ "About Us | BALLARAT INTERNATIONAL FOTO BIENNALE". ballaratfoto.org. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  12. ↑ Miller, Nick (2020-12-10). "'A massive coup': Rare Linda McCartney retrospective to show at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  13. ↑ Tacon, Dave (2017-08-17). "David LaChapelle retrospective adds a touch of celebrity to Ballarat International Foto Biennale". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  14. ↑ "From Ballarat to NY, the power of one man's art". www.abc.net.au. 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  15. ↑ "Chinese artist Liu Bolin headlines at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale". ABC Radio National. 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  16. ↑ Webb, Carolyn (2019-08-19). "An invisible man makes an Exhibition of himself". The Age. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
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