About Us

About Us

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale is a world-class arts organisation delivering an internationally significant festival of photography and lens-based art. Every two years, it transforms Ballarat into a city-wide celebration of images, ideas and visual storytelling.

From August to October, the Biennale presents:

• A platform for curatorial leadership and innovation, showcasing Australian and international artists of distinction.
• A commitment to nurturing photographers and the art of photography, across diverse practices and generations.
• An Open Program that discovers and elevates new and emerging voices.
• Education initiatives that support and inspire the next generation of image-makers.
• Workshops, public programs and artist residencies that deepen engagement, participation and access.

Ballarat becomes a meeting place for artists, audiences and global conversations in contemporary photography.

Jeff Moorfoot OAM is the founder of the organisation, starting the event in the regional Victorian town of Daylesford before it relocated to Ballarat as the festival expanded. Jeff retired in 2015 as the driving force behind Australia’s largest and most comprehensive international festival of photography. Future festivals have featured renowned artists including David LaChapelle, Liu Bolin, The Linda McCartney: Retrospective and Platon’s People Power.

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale is also developing a permanent gallery and art institution. The National Centre for Photography will be located in a beautiful heritage-listed former bank building in the heart of Ballarat.

Ballarat International Foto Biennale is an invited member of the International Biennial Association and led the formation of the Asia Pacific Photoforum. It is the only Oceanic Member of the Festival of Light.

2005 to 2015 Jeff Moorfoot OAM – founder and Artistic Director

2016 to 2021 Fiona Sweet – Artistic Director and CEO

2022 to current Vanessa Gerrans – Artistic Director and CEO

National Centre for Photography

The National Centre for Photography is a vibrant space where photography is celebrated as an art form and a powerful medium for storytelling, innovation, and connection. We showcase leading Australian and international practitioners, nurturing emerging visions, and amplifying the voices of First Nations and diverse communities.

Through exhibitions, residencies, education, and cross-disciplinary collaborations, the National Centre for Photography expands opportunities for artists and audiences alike. It is a place where experimentation meets dialogue, and where new ideas are sparked through photography in all its forms.

Stage 1 delivers heritage restoration, the Bath Lane entry, gallery spaces, and ground-level amenities. Stage 2 will complete the Union Bank restoration with an Australian First Nations Gallery, Digital Gallery, Media Lab, and more — expanding exhibitions, public programs, and education.

The National Centre for Photography Stage 1 is backed by $6.7 million investment from the Victorian Government’s Tourism Infrastructure Program.

• Find out more

Our Supporters

All of our supporters receive tax-deductible receipts for their donations. Government organisations (local, state and federal) and Trusts and Foundations receive detailed acquittal reports. All corporate sponsors are contracted and receive a report on the marketing outcomes of the festival.

• View our past biennales archive