Experts to showcase their crafts

CONTEMPORARY flair and traditional artisan skills are coming to the Ballarat Heritage Festival again this year with the return of the Craft Lab.

The four-day event showcases 17 expert practitioners from the region as they share their knowledge and the techniques used to make different crafts.

With free entry and everyone from upholsterers to spinners to shoe and armoury makers there is bound to be something for everyone.

Visitors will be able to try their hand at their own crafts with help from experts as well as be able to participate in talks and demonstrations.

“It’s an exceptional display of handcrafted work from Ballarat and the region,” said curator Amelia James.

“This year we’ve extended the offering even further with a central display which showcases 30 or so more artisans and also a couple of events which are pretty exceptional.

“In the week between the two weekends we will be offering workshops that people can book into with most of our artisans, so it’s a little taster to try out and practice further skills.

“On the second weekend we have the back-to-back challenge which is an international wool challenge.

“Wool will be taken from the sheep’s back and turned into a jumper and it’s a competition between two teams to do it in record time which is very exciting for visitors.”

Ms James said ensuring visitors have a wonderful experience is what Craft Lab it’s all about.

“What I’m personally excited about is how we carefully chose our practitioners and work with them so the visitor can have the best experience possible,” she said.

“We hope it inspires our visitors to keep being involved and keep supporting crafts people as it is a significant sector in our community and perhaps one which is sometimes a bit invisible.”

Craft Lab will be open Saturday, 20 May and Sunday, 21 May as well as Saturday, 27 May and Sunday, 28 May at the Ballarat Mining Exchange.

To find out more or book a workshop visit creativeballarat.com.au.

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