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LIU BOLIN
24 AUG – 20 OCT 2019

About Us

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale was founded in 2005 and attracts significant International and Australian photographers as one of Australia’s pre-eminent photographic festivals.

It is a not-for-profit event that immerses the historic town of Ballarat in photographic art.

For over 14 years, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale has enriched the cultural landscape of regional Victoria and become the most significant, prestigious photographic arts festival in Australia. Held every two years we showcase work from domestic and international artists that is new, previously unseen in Australia or contextualised afresh; and in our Open Program we foster the development of new artists. Alongside there are public programs and education programs comprising talks, workshops and prizes which round out a rich and diverse cultural event that attracts more than 26,000 people, delivering significant economic and cultural impact.

The Foto Biennale is guided by the principle that it not only serves the community but also plays a vital role in cultivating it.

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale has attracted more than 180,000 visitors to Ballarat and was honored in 2018 at the Federation Business School and Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards as the winner of the Visit Ballarat Events and Attractions Business Award. Its Founding Director, Jeff Moorfoot OAM received an Order of Australia Medal for services to photography.

We are Australia’s leading photographic festival. We’ve done this by consistently finding new ways to engage audiences with photography, responding to our audience’s needs, their changing vision of art and culture, and the role it plays in shaping Ballarat. We recognise and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people as the First Australians. Through photography, we see our world reflected back in unexpected ways through the eyes of others: artists, community and new perspectives.

 

How We Support Artists

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale prides itself on being a sustainable and flexible organisation, registered as a not-for-profit and reporting to ACNC quarterly with audited financials every year. With the full support of our board and carefully documented audited accounts, we ensure that all our artists are supported throughout the Foto Biennale. As registered members of NAVA (National Association for Visual Artists) and IBA (International Biennial Association) we ensure all core contracted artists are paid. Contracted artists are paid in full prior to or in the opening week of the festival. Any touring of artists works are re-contracted and paid additional touring fees. Artist fees are exclusive of their printing and material costs.

Our exhibition spaces and audience engagement ensure that artists are exposed to large audiences within the beautiful heritage buildings of Ballarat, and in 2017 we were thrilled that 3 artists gained gallery representation as a direct result of exhibiting with us. Another artist had his complete exhibition purchased by the NGV.

Our Supporters

All our supporters receive tax deductible receipts for their donations. Government organisations (local, state and federal) and Trusts and Foundations receive acquittals outlining where their money was spent. All corporate sponsors are contracted and receive a report on the marketing outcomes of the festival.

The 8th Ballarat International Foto Biennale is on from 24 August to 20 October 2019.

 

Team

Festival and Artistic Director: Fiona Sweet

Renowned for inspiring and intelligent delivery of uniquely crafted festivals and arts events, Fiona Sweet is an influential and highly sought after speaker, industry judge in Australia and internationally including at Les Rencontres De La Photographie, France; Fotofestiwal, Poland; and Triennial of Photography Hamburg, Germany.

Prior to her appointment at BIFB Sweet was the founding Director of Sweet Creative, a leading design agency in Melbourne receiving prestigious awards from the Australian Graphic Design Association and the Victorian Government. Sweet co-founded Melbourne’s Acland Street Projection Festival and has served on the boards of the Melbourne Fringe, Chamber Made Opera, Shir Madness and Australian Graphic Design Association. She currently sits on the Ballarat Public Arts Advisory Committee, and the Advisory Committee for the Discipline of Photography at RMIT. In 2018 Sweet was awarded an Ian Potter Development Grant assisting her research concerning international art festival best practice.

 

Associate Curator: Aaron Bradbrook (until 18 July 2019)

Aaron Bradbrook is a curator, writer and photographer. He has held various roles at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Italy; Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Victoria; Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Western Australia; and Alcaston Art Gallery, Victoria. Trained in photography and journalism he gained his MA in International Development Studies at the University of Melbourne with research concerning human rights, gender and the political economy. He has received numerous academic scholarships to study internationally at Arizona State University, USA; Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Bangladesh; and Universitas of Indonesia, Jakarta.

Festival Coordinator: Madelyn Pickersgill

Education Officer: Amelia James

Education Assistant: Annabel Mason

Producer: Liza Martin

Public Programs and Events: Ella Cawthorn

Volunteer Coordinator: Amanda Fewell

Sponsorship: Heidi Jarvis

Marketing and Social Media: Eliza Hopkinson, Kate O’Hehir and Madelyn Pickersgill

Social Media: Felicity Martin

Design: Jordan Rowe Creative Direction

Web Developer: Hody Hong

IT Support: Jason Maher

Open Program Producer: Madelyn Pickersgill

Publicity: Common State

Legals: Lloyd Dewar, Dewar Law, Forty Four Degrees Lawyers and Consultants, Lincolns Lawyers and Consultants 

Interns: Elizabeth Graham, Elonie Hooper, Sarah McDonald and Lara Russell

 

Board

Stephen Jurica (Chair)

As a local, and professionally as a barrister, Stephen Jurica brings his love of Ballarat and his legal and business skills to the role of Chair.  Stephen works in Melbourne in the areas of personal injury, commercial, property, planning and sports law. Before that, he was a solicitor in banking and property law in London and Melbourne. Stephen is a nationally accredited mediator and is a member of the AFL Tribunal Appeal Board. Stephen lives right in the heart of Ballarat with his young family and thoroughly enjoys his part in bringing cultural events to the community.

Brigid Moloney (Deputy Chair)

Brigid Moloney has experience at executive and board level in government and not-for-profit agencies with expertise in marketing, stakeholder management and program development. She has a special interest in corporate governance and is passionate about proactively creating stronger communities through her involvement with events such as the Foto Biennale. Brigid lives in Ballarat where she is a business owner and manager, and is also a Board Governor of McCallum Disability Services.

Alane Fineman (Treasurer)

Alane Fineman is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in the finance sector including senior positions with major ASX listed corporations and Big 4 accounting firms.  She is an avid supporter of the arts, having worked actively in philanthropy with The Australian Ballet over many years.  Alane brings an enthusiasm and unique skillset that will contribute greatly to not only the governance of the Board’s operations but also the financial integrity and broader ambitions of the organisation.

Morgan McLay (Secretary)

Morgan McLay is a barrister at the Victorian Bar. In his legal practice, Morgan regularly represents high profile clients including artists. His primary practice is in public and medical law.  Morgan also practices in common law, rights protection and financial crime (including directors’ and officers’ liability). He has a passion for the arts, especially film and photography. Having previously lived in the Daylesford area, Morgan is pleased to be part of the team bringing a world class arts festival to Ballarat. Morgan is committed to making the Arts more accessible to Regional Victoria whilst at the same time showcasing what Regional Victoria has to offer.

Zoë Croggon

Zoë Croggon is a Melbourne-based photographic artist holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours from the Victorian College of the Arts. She has recently held solo exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria, the Perth Centre for Photography and Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery and was the recipient of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Studio Scholarship at the Cité Internationale des Arts (Paris, 2018). Zoë brings her versatile and expansive knowledge of contemporary art and specifically expanded photography to the Ballarat International Foto Biennale board. Zoë is represented by Daine Singer, Melbourne.

Nikki Foy

Nikki Foy is a proud Gunditjmara/Wotjobaluk woman who has lived and grown up on Wadawurrung country all her life. Nikki has worked in Aboriginal Affairs for over 20 years, predominantly in the education space. She is passionate about better health and education outcomes for all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people and loves to see Aboriginal people in leadership roles. Through her work she has provided advice to government both at a local and state level. An alumni of the Leadership Ballart & Western Region program, she served 18 months as the first Aboriginal Multicultural Ambassador for Intercultural Ambassador Program with the City of Ballarat, ‘Capture it, Keep it and Treasure it’.

Alicia Linley

Alicia Linley is a Managing Director at Mitchell Harris Wines and has overseen the business excel from the startup phase to now. Through sound financial management and business development she has been able to elevate Mitchell Harris from more than just a winemaker and hospitality venue, into a genuine tourism destination for Ballarat. Alicia has been named as a Victorian finalist for the 2019 Telstra Business Women’s Award.

Dana Ronan

Senior tourism professional Dana Ronan has held positions with a range of tourism companies including Discovery Holiday Parks, Voyages Hotels and Resorts, travel.com.au, the APT Group and AAT Kings, as well as her own business the Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk. Dana is currently on the board of Voyages Hotels & Resorts, Victoria Walks and advises the boards of several private family tourism businesses. Dana lives in regional Victoria and consults in strategic digital transformation, cooperative marketing, branding and technology change.

 

Jacqueline Williams

Jacqueline Williams is an experienced development executive and capital campaign consultant with demonstrated history in major gifts fundraising.  Jacqueline has helped build sustainable fundraising futures for arts and educational institutions in Western Australia, Melbourne and regional Victoria over twenty years.  She has served on a number of arts boards and committees, including the Ballarat Arts Foundation, Culture is Life and has current positions with Theatre Networks Australia and Ballarat Foto Biennale.  The belief that strong giving relationships are pivotal to fundraising success is motivating, deep-seated and authentic for Jacqueline.

 

 

Ambassadors

Stephen Bracks AC

Julian Burnside AO QC

Her Honour Judge Sara Hinchey

Peter Jopling AM QC

Julie Kantor

Natalie King

The Hon. Robert Knowles AO

Madam Mayor Samantha McIntosh

Kate Torney

James Valentine