Outdoor program fills Foto void

BALLARAT International Foto Biennale artistic director Fiona Sweet has said the festival’s full program will open as soon as State Government COVID-19 restrictions allow it.

But in the meantime, those close to the CBD can still enjoy part of the BIFB, with most of the 16 planned outdoor installations up.

“I invite anyone living within five kilometres of central Ballarat, and I stress that you must live within the permitted five-kilometre radius, to stroll past our core program outdoor exhibitions during their daily allotted time for exercise,” Ms Sweet said.

“We’re putting a Google Map on our website which will identify all the outdoor public art locations. We usually have 1000 people minimum walking around Ballarat’s streets every day of our festival, and at the moment we’ve got about 20, but that’s okay.

“We’ve got more Ballarat people getting excited this year, understanding that we’re the only ones that can view the outdoor works at the moment.”

Sites utilised throughout the outdoor program include Alfred Deakin Place, Wigton Place, the Hop Temple Laneway, Campana’s Stockade Cellars, the corner of Camp and Field streets, McKenzie Street, Lydiard Street, Police Lane, and CBD footpaths.

Photographic artists from South Africa, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Australia are showcased.

Ms Sweet said all other BIFB exhibitions are “finished and locked,” ready to go as soon as the State Government says it is safe to open the shows to audiences.

Visit ballaratfoto.org for information on the outdoor and full programs.