Food and creativity focus for additions

March 12, 2023 BY Tim Bottams

Appreciation: The founders of Hidden Lanes, Jarrod and Emma Hall, were inspired by their slow-walking experiences while living in South Korea for nine years. Photo: TIM BOTTAMS

A TOUR experience aimed at highlighting Ballarat’s lesser-known businesses saw its first expansion over the weekend.

Since launching self-guided tour Hidden Lanes last year, founders Emma and Jarrod Hall unveiled their Arts and Culinary Package on Saturday.

With the original program showcasing 22 venues including cafes, galleries and stores, Emma said the new offering is bringing a more artistic take on their initial vision.

“We got feedback from participants and gave them some options on what they’d like to see next and a lot of people chose food and art, something more specific,” she said.

“Hidden Lanes was very broad so we wanted to narrow it in with both a self-guided tour that includes experiences like an art workshop as well as lunch at Hop Temple.

“It’s a little bit more hands-on and a bit more of a treat or experience you might do together with somebody.”

The ticketed package will include scheduled stops at artists Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling and Nicola Cerini’s studios and a violin performance at the Titanic Rotunda.

A self-guided version will be available featuring more than 12 stops each including an accompanying podcast entry.

The package will run on later dates throughout the year with an upcoming one taking place during May’s Heritage Festival.

Jarrod said the package is a pilot for future Hidden Lanes expansions.

“We’re dipping our toes in the water for a more guided approach,” he said. “We’ll see what happens with this style where it’s more time-managed.

“There’s definitely more routes in the pipeline so we can expand this to different places in Ballarat. People are always suggesting places for us.”

“One of the strengths of the businesses we’ve worked with is there all very passionate people. Their businesses aren’t just money-making schemes, it’s their dream.

“Whether it’s food, art, whatever, they’re all very inspiring people so it’s great we can incorporate that into the tour.”

Tickets for the Arts and Culinary Package can be found at bit.ly/3KPu8fI.