The Camp Street gallery co-founder Stephen Pigott said the basement bar would be “woody and dark” and “small and simple”, with chesterfield lounges and a capacity for 50 patrons.

The bar would open alongside the gallery for events like White Night, which comes to Ballarat in March.

“We've always seen the potential for it, a little bit of renovations and a liquor license will tip it up a notch.

“The idea is we activate the whole building, the gallery is up and running and so the bar will be just another factor in that to bring the whole area up, enliven the whole building and hopefully the precinct and Camp Street and get people moving about and enjoying the cultural highlights of Ballarat.”

Opening hours would most likely be Wednesday to Sunday, with an 11pm closing time, Mr Pigott said. 

The bar would have a separate entrance to the gallery.