AFTER a year out in the cold, the Ballarat Design Exchange Winter Market is ready to make its comeback, with around 60 designers and small businesses from all over Victoria invited to make an appearance.<\/p>\n
The curated event accepts stallholders by application only, ensuring the quality and variety of items for sale are kept to a top-notch standard.<\/p>\n
Organiser Lyndelle Flintoft said while it’s a challenge to \u201cpull any event off at the moment\u201d, it’s fantastic to \u201cget something running.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor all the stallholders, they’re so used to their events being canceled. So it’s really great for them to be able to have somewhere to show their product (once again),\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of them do this for a living – they’re professionals, and they make amazing products. They’re the top of the range of talents.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it’s just great for the community to have an event that they can come out to be a part of as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Flintoft said that, given the events of the past 12 months or so, the market\u2019s focus on locally made items is something that is expected to resonate even more with visitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cCOVID has been a catalyst and people are really aware where things are coming from now, and I think that’s brilliant,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should all be supporting Australian made and ethically produced products.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ballarat Design Exchange Winter Market takes place at the Ballarat Mining Exchange, Lydiard Street North on Saturday, 10 July between 4pm and 9.30pm and Sunday, 11 July from 10am to 3pm.<\/p>\n