Acknowledgement of Country

Ballarat International Foto Biennale acknowledges that we are meeting, creating and working on the traditional land of the Wadawurrung and and Dja Dja Wurrung People. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage beliefs and relationship with the land. We pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future.

Open Program Artist Registration

We are delighted to invite artists to register for the Open Program at the 11th Ballarat International Foto Biennale, running from 23 August to 19 October 2025. As Australia’s most immersive and engaging photographic biennale, the festival attracts national and international audiences to Ballarat.

Why Participate?
As an Open Program exhibitor, you will:

  • Be featured in the 2025 Biennale program
  • Gain exposure through our festival website and social media channels
  • Have the chance to win $2,000 AUD First Prize or the $500 AUD People’s Choice Award

The Open Program is open to all photographers and photo media artists, offering an exciting opportunity to exhibit your work in the festival.

How It Works
Registration is a two-step process:

Step 1: Register & Pay
Confirm your participation by submitting your details and processing the registration fee.

$450 artist registration
$360 student registration (with a valid student email account)
Become a Friend of the Biennale member to receive a 10% discount on registration. Sign up now and the discount will be automatically applied once you are a member. Members also receive discounts on festival tickets, and much more!

Step 2: Submit Your Exhibition Details
Provide your exhibition title, a short description, and three sample images (these images should be your exhibition heroes and will be used for festival marketing). Our team will work with you to match your exhibition with a venue and include it in the festival program.

While registrations for this year have closed, it’s never too early to start dreaming about your exhibition for 2027. Get ready to showcase your talent in the vibrant venues of Ballarat!