Victorian Government invests $6.7 million in National Centre For Photography

The investment has been welcomed by the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB), which has been working towards expanding its facilities for well over two years. The National Centre For Photography will be a world class venue, providing a centre for the art of photography and photo media and offering extensive opportunities for artists at a local and national level. It will transform the former Union Bank on Lydiard Street in the heart of Ballarat’s Arts Precinct and feature up to six state-of-the-art gallery spaces for major temporary exhibitions, opportunities for community artists to exhibit plus a dedicated photobook library. It will host exhibitions, workshops, events, artist residencies, educational and professional development programs.

Much of the money will go towards renovating the 19th century Union Bank Building, which was built in the 1860s and purchased by BIFB in 2018.The centre is estimated to generate $75.7 million in economic benefit over 15 years. The redevelopment is expected to be completed within two years. Next year’s Ballarat International Foto Biennale will begin on 28 August and run until 24 October 2021. Click here for more information.