Ballarat International Foto Biennale 2025 program announced

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB) has released the full program for its 2025 edition, which runs from 23 August to 19 October.

This year’s theme is Lifeforce, and it ties into an eight-week program of exhibitions, public art, talks, and workshops across more than 100 venues throughout Ballarat.

Presented by Intrepid Travel, the festival will feature over 360 artists and bring together Australian and international photographers, digital artists, and creative practitioners. The program includes Australian-exclusive exhibitions, world premieres, and large-scale outdoor installations.

Vanessa Gerrans, Artistic Director and CEO of the Biennale, said the 2025 edition celebrates the creative drive that connects artists with audiences. “This year’s program reflects a wide range of perspectives through photography and visual storytelling, offering visitors the chance to engage with both established and emerging voices.”

The Biennale is massive, with countless events and exhibitions over the eight week long festival. Here are a few highlights:

Key Exhibitions

• I ❤ Campbell | Campbell Addy
  Ballarat Mining Exchange
  Australian-exclusive presentation of portrait and fashion photography by British Ghanaian artist Campbell Addy, whose subjects include Naomi Campbell, Beyoncé and Lizzo.

• Enninful x Mapplethorpe | Robert Mapplethorpe
  Post Office Gallery
  Curated by Edward Enninful OBE, this exhibition recontextualises 46 works by Robert Mapplethorpe for new audiences.

• Catherine Leroy: One Way Ticket to Vietnam 1966–1968
  Ballarat Town Hall
  The first comprehensive exhibition of French photojournalist Catherine Leroy’s work from the Vietnam War.

• Long Exposure: The Legacy of Prahran College
  Miners Tavern
  A group show featuring 50 artists shaped by the former Prahran College of Advanced Education.

• Thành Phẩm | Lê Nguyên Phương
  Ballarat Library
  A counter-archive of personal and family photographs exploring Vietnamese perspectives on the Vietnam War.

• Nature~ista | Leila Jeffreys and Maria Fernanda Cardoso
  RACV Goldfields Resort
  A joint exhibition that looks at the characteristics of wildlife through photography and sculpture.

• Prompted Peculiar International AI Prize
  Miners Tavern
  An exhibition of selected entries exploring the role of artificial intelligence in creative practice.

• Hagoromo (Full Flower Moon) | Hiromi Tango
  RACV Goldfields Resort
  A new body of work informed by Japanese theatre and cultural traditions, reflecting on identity and grief.

• Martin Kantor Portrait Prize
  GovHub
  The $15,000 acquisitive prize highlights new work in contemporary portrait photography.

Outdoor and Public Art

The Biennale’s outdoor program will activate Ballarat’s streets, laneways and public spaces. Highlights include:

• Mumu Mirri | Dave Jones and Dr Deanne Gilson
  Exterior of the National Centre for Photography
  A large sculptural work referencing the Bogong Moth, significant in First Nations cultural heritage.

• Memory Matrix | Jody Haines and Debasish Mukherjee
  Bridge Mall and The Goods Shed
  A collaborative installation examining memory, place and identity.

• High Exposure
  Various laneways
  Works by emerging Ballarat-based artists responding to the theme Lifeforce.

• GradFoto
  GovHub Precinct Gardens
  New work by recent Australian photography graduates.

• Guma | Leicolhn McKellar
  Alfred Deakin Place
  A digital artwork exploring connections between language, place and identity.

Events and Programs

The Biennale also includes a series of public programs, artist talks and community events:

• Lifeforce Gala
  23 August, Ballarat Mining Exchange
  An opening event in support of the Biennale’s programming and artist support initiatives.

• The Art of Lunch
  24 August, RACV Goldfields Resort
  A hosted lunch and artist conversation featuring Campbell Addy, Lê Nguyên Phương and Hiromi Tango.

• Todd Hido in Conversation
  4 September, The Goods Shed
  A discussion with the American photographer, presented in partnership with Leica Australia.

• Women Shaping Photojournalism
  14 September, 101 Lydiard
  A conversation with photojournalists Christina Simons, Carla Gottgens and Penny Stephens. Supported by Nikon Australia.

• Negotiating the Nude
  13 September, Craig’s Royal Hotel
  A full-day photography workshop focused on approaches to photographing the nude.

• Country Struts Line Dancing
  18 October, Ballarat Mining Exchange
  A free community dance event suitable for all skill levels.

• The Passion of Joan of Arc Screening
  19 October, Ballarat Performing Arts Community
  A screening of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 silent film with a curated soundtrack by Erik Satie.

Additional Information

This year’s program includes pop-up shows in cafes and bars across the city. All ticket holders will be entered into a prize draw to win an Intrepid Travel experience worth up to $15,000.

For the full program and ticket details, visit ballaratfoto.org.