Organisers have called for expressions of interest from artists for installation, lighting, exhibition and interactive performance projects for next year’s event on March 17.

The 12-hour overnight arts and culture festival drew about 40,000 people in to the city during the inaugural event this year and organisers hope next year’s crowd will be even bigger.

Artists are invited to submit their ideas which incorporate White Night Ballarat 2018’s themes – iconic quotes from Australian poet Henry Lawson and artist Vincent Van Gogh

Visit Ballarat chair Sarah Beaumont said White Night was a tremendous opportunity for local artists.

“Our artistic community in Ballarat is absolutely brilliant but we need them to know about this opportunity,” she said.

“The benefit of having White Night Ballarat is it attracts a huge number of people from all over the place so it’s brilliant for the local visitor economy, but more importantly it helps our local artists build their profile and is an opportunity work on a high-profile international art project,” she said.

Mayor Samantha McIntosh said a number of other Victorian councils fought hard to take White Night from Ballarat.

“It’s all about making our city come to life. I love to see the Ballarat streetscape alive, vibrant and modern and I encourage all artists to be part of the event.”

Artist Ellen Sorensen had three works installed at at Ballaarat Mechanics Institute during this year’s White Night and performed during the event as a singer songwriter. She hopes to take part again next year.

“I feel like Ballarat is the ideal place to do it because it’s big enough that you can make it work but small enough that it doesn’t feel foreign,” she said.

White Night Ballarat 2018 expressions of interest close on October 6. Director David Atkins and his creative team will review submissions and notify successful artists by the end of November.