BALLARAT’S cafes and shops are looking forward to a month of thriving business with the upcoming Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
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The festival, set to take place from August 22 to September 20, will see more than 80 venues around the city showcase the work of local, national and international photographers.
In addition to the festival’s core program at select venues, the event will feature a fringe program comprised of 120 shows displayed in businesses throughout Ballarat.
Mr Rede cafe and restaurant will act as the Fringe Hub, providing much needed information for festival goers as well as a series of photo exhibitions.
Owner Debra Coughlan said she would be rostering more staff to cope with the influx of visitors during the event.
“I think it will be extremely busy,” she said.
“We’re open Wednesday to Sunday and I’ve put extra staff on. I think it will bring a lot of people through our doors.
“It’s such a great program and should hopefully bring in a lot of business.”
The Known World Bookshop owner Michelle Coxall said her shop had been involved in the festival since it first came to Ballarat.
She said small businesses in particular really thrived during the event.
“I think what it does and what I love about it, is it encourages locals and visitors to explore the whole city and go to places they perhaps wouldn’t normally go,” she said.
“There is this marvelous free-flow of people moving around our wonderful city and that is a beautiful thing.”
The Forge Pizzeria director Tim Matthews said this would be the second time his Armstrong Street shop was involved in the festival.
“We are expecting visitors to increase during the day from noon to dinner time because that’s when the majority of people will be going and checking out the photos,” Mr Matthews said.
“Our exhibitor this year has a captivating body of work and we’re expecting it to be one of the drawcards of the festival.”
Ballarat Regional Tourism chief executive officer George Sossi said the benefit to participating venues and surrounding businesses as a result of the BIFB was three-fold.
“Their offering is showcased to an educated and cultured audience, they’re aligned with a prestigious event, and they benefit from the economic impact of a month-long event,” he said.
Mr Sossi said the 2013 program saw 12,000 people walk through the exhibition spaces, with more expected this year.
“As the festival grows bigger, so too do the crowds,” he said.
