Front up to FEAR

FEMXLE Experience Art Rebellion – FEAR for short – is a working studio, gallery and retail space.

FEAR was established in 2021 by four women with strong connections to Ballarat.

Holly Would, Toni Louise, Brittany Wallmeyer and Maggie Schirmer came together with a mutual vision to bridge the gap in artist run spaces within our region and to change the patriarchal narrative through our lived experiences.

Their goal was to support our local creative community in a way that encourages collaboration and empowerment, and providing a safe space where voices are not silenced.

“We created a space where we’re free to be ourselves, where we fit in, we answer to ourselves, we get to set the tone,” said Holly.

Providing visibility to those who feel overlooked, especially emerging artists is one of our key values. We are committed to providing a space for those who don’t feel like they belong and have difficulty exhibiting their work.

FEAR houses the work of around 30 local artists, each as unique as the next. There is a little bit of everything in store, with more and more being added each week.

FEAR has naturally evolved over the past 12 months. They run regular workshops and events that range from beginners all the way to advanced.

Keeping our workshops as affordable as possible, while still paying a fair artist fee, is important to the team at FEAR.

They want everyone to be able to come in and participate without having to worry about the cost. New workshops are constantly being added into the rotation.

FEAR’s aim is to be the one stop shop for anything creative in Ballarat and surrounds and the team want people see the benefits of having active creative spaces open to the public and the importance of the arts as a whole.

“Art starts conversations, art creates connections, art impacts change, and we’re asked to put a price on that,” Holly said.

“We can’t really, we do because we have to and we deserve to be paid our worth, but the truth is, it’s invaluable.”

FEAR is a LGBTQIA+ organisation and supports all those oppressed by the patriarchy.