15 December 2024
Works are underway to transform the heritage-listed Union Bank Building on Lydiard Street in Ballarat Central into Australia’s leading photographic destination thanks to a $6.7 million Victorian Government investment through the Tourism Infrastructure Program.
When complete, the National Centre for Photography will serve as the hub of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
The public will get their first opportunity to explore the centre, which will feature state-of-the-art gallery spaces and a dedicated photobook library, at this year’s Foto Biennale.
The 2025 Biennale will be headlined by the exclusive showing of British-Ghanaian photographer Campbell Addy’s I ❤ Campbell exhibition, and run from 23 August to 19 October this year.
The Victorian Government’s investment in the infrastructure project – as well as its operational support of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale provided through Creative Victoria’s Creative Enterprises Program – are designed to make Ballarat an even better place to live, work, stay and play.
Other recent government investments in the region include the Art Gallery of Ballarat receiving an Enabling Tourism Fund grant in August to develop a masterplan that will help it put on blockbuster exhibitions, and the recently completed $10 million redevelopment of the 150-year-old Her Majesty’s Theatre.
The full program for this year’s Ballarat International Foto Biennale will be released mid-2025. For more information, go to ballaratfoto.org website.
Scaffolding outside of the Union Bank Building that is being transformed into the National Centre for Photography.
