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.

Visual Descriptions at Ballarat Foto

About Visual Descriptions at Ballarat Foto

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale (Ballarat Foto) is calling for applications from writers based in Ballarat and surrounds for a project developing visual descriptions of festival artworks to enhance accessibility for blind and low-vision visitors.

From this application process, five writers will be selected to participate in a capacity building workshop with Sim Lüttin, founder of Jump Left, an organisation working at the intersection of art and disability. In this workshop, Sim will share accessible art writing practices and support participating writers to produce visual descriptions of selected artworks exhibited during the 2025 Biennale (23 August–19 October). The writers’ visual descriptions will be presented as audio recordings, accessible via a QR code, and braille didactics on gallery walls.

Successful applicants must be available to attend a workshop in Ballarat on Saturday 28 June. If you are unable to attend the workshop in person, it will be presented in a hybrid format so you can attend online.

Following this initial workshop, the writers will also meet with Sim for a 1:1 one hour mentoring session. Editorial support will be provided by Ballarat Foto’s Education & Public Engagement Coordinator Christine McFetridge.

In addition to the professional development offered by this project, writers will receive a $250 fee for writing visual descriptions of two artworks and a stipend of $200 to cover travel, meals and incidental costs associated with participating in the workshop. They will also receive a free festival pass to visit the Biennale.

Ballarat Foto encourages applications from d/Deaf and/or disabled writers for this project. Scheduled sessions can be AUSLAN interpreted.

Please direct any questions to Education & Public Engagement Coordinator Christine McFetridge at education@ballaratfoto.org or call (+61) 3 5331 4833.

This project is supported by an are-able Foundation Community Grant. Special thanks to former CEO Julie Skate and Writeability Program Manager Miri Hirschfeld at Writers Victoria for their support in the initial stages of this project.

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Image credit: Gianna Rizzo

 

Program Outline

Applications open: Monday 2 June 2025
Applications close: 11:59 pm, Sunday 15 June 2025
Applicants notified: Thursday 19 June
Workshop date: Saturday 28 June from 10 am–2 pm at Ballarat Library
Writing time: Sunday 29 June–Sunday 20 July
Send drafted visual descriptions to Sim: Sunday 20 July
Mentoring sessions with Sim: Monday 21–Friday 25 July
Final revisions: Monday 28–Thursday 31 July
Visual descriptions due: Friday 1 August

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About Sim Lüttin

A portrait of Sim Lüttin standing in the doorway to her office at Jump Left.Sim Lüttin is an arts professional based in Narrm (Melbourne) with 25 years of experience as an artist, gallerist, curator and arts leader.

Sim’s dedication to the arts resonates through her creative work and professional practice. She tirelessly creates opportunities, promotes equity, and champions diverse artists nationally and globally through inclusive collaborations. As a curatorial co-founder of Art et al., former curator at Arts Project Australia, and founder and director of Jump Left, Sim’s experiences have shaped her ambitions, leading her to establish a nimble and aspirational independent business at the intersection of art and disability.

Image credit: Gianna Rizzo.


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Access Information

Please note: This in-person workshop and online mentoring program includes the following accessibility and participation options:

In-Person Workshop
A graphic of the accessibility symbol featuring a person seated in a wheelchair.The face-to-face workshop will be held in wheelchair-accessible venues with accessible toilets nearby. Venue details will be shared closer to the date. If you are unable to attend the workshop in person, a Zoom link will be provided.

Zoom Meetings
Online sessions will be held via Zoom and are accessible. If you have specific access requirements, please let us know in advance.

Online Mentoring
One-on-one mentoring sessions with Sim Lüttin will take place via Zoom. Links will be provided before each session. Participants will need access to a phone or computer with a built-in camera—no additional software is required.

Other Correspondence
Mentoring can also be provided via email or phone as needed.

Session Monitoring
To ensure high-quality, accessible delivery, some sessions may be recorded.

Auslan Interpreting
A graphic of the Auslan interpretation symbol.Auslan interpreters are available for in-person workshops and selected mentoring sessions upon request.

 

Contact for Questions or Accessibility Needs
Christine McFetridge (she/her)
Education & Public Engagement Coordinator, Ballarat Foto
📞  03 5331 4833 or 0497 090 741
📧  education@ballaratfoto.org

Application Form

To submit your application, please fill in the short form below by 11:59 pm on Sunday 15 June 2025. Responses are stored in line with our Privacy Policy.

You’ll be asked to provide:

  • Your contact information
  • Any access requirements
  • Confirmation that you are available to attend the workshop with Sim Lüttin on Saturday 28 June from 10 am–2 pm at Ballarat Library
  • A brief summary of your writing experience (1,000 characters maximum; dot points are acceptable; any level of experience is welcome)
  • A brief writing sample (1,500 characters maximum), and
  • A brief response detailing what you’d most like to gain by participating in this program (1,000 characters maximum).

Ballarat Foto is also open to alternative application formats to improve accessibility. Please email Education & Public Engagement Coordinator Christine McFetridge at education@ballaratfoto.org or call (+61) 3 5331 4833 to discuss how we can best support you.

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"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Address*
Email*
Do you identify in any of the following ways?
Tick as many as apply.
Do you have any accessibility needs? Ballarat Foto encourages applications from d/Deaf and/or disabled writers for this project. Scheduled sessions can be AUSLAN interpreted.
Are you available for the workshop on Saturday 28 June?*
Please indicate your availability for the workshop. Successful applicants must be available to attend a workshop in Ballarat or online on Saturday 28 June.
Tell us about your writing experience (maximum 1,000 characters).
Please provide a brief writing sample (maximum 1,500 characters).
Tell us what you would most like to gain from participating in this project (maximum 1,000 characters).