Ballarat will once again host a month-long festival of the photographic arts as the Ballarat International Foto Biennale returns in August with a diverse range of photo events.
Now in its fifth year, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB) Festival of Photography is a city-wide celebration of photography that brings the streets of Ballarat, Victoria, to life with its presentation of over 80 shows staged within galleries, project spaces, commercial businesses and public sites.
The festival, which runs from 17 August to 15 September 2013 comprises two major exhibition programs – the curated Biennale exhibition's Core Program, and the open entry Fringe Program.
Staged in eight unique heritage buildings in Ballarat, The BIFB Core Program features a series of invited exhibitions by 20 Australian and International artists representing some of the best and most innovative contemporary photographic practice. Artists featured in the the 2013 BIFB Core Program include South Korean fashion photographer Young Ho Kang, American photographer Francisco Diaz, New Zealand's Doc Ross, and Australian photographer Sonia Macak. All Core Program exhibitions are free to attend and are open seven days a week for the Biennale's month-long duration.
"Once again the Core Program at BIFB'13 will bring an eclectic mix of photography from all over the world," says Festival Director, Jeff Moorfoot.
"With the exception of our tribute show, which at this festival features the work of the late John Cato, none of the exhibitions will have been previously shown in Australia. It has always been our aim to keep the festival fresh and somewhat unpredictable for our audience, and we take great pride in exposing the works of exciting new artists to festival goers."
The BIFB's second exhibition program, the Fringe Program, provides a stage for photographers of all levels to present their work to the broadest possible audience, and to show alongside, learn from, and be inspired by some of the best photographic talent from around the world.
There is no selection panel, preferred style or experience level that restrict artists from participating in the Fringe. The Fringe is totally open entry, so any artist who can secure a venue can participate.
