The central business district streets will be filled with musicians this March with the regional finals of the National Busking Championships to be held in Ballarat for the first time this year.
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The competition which has been hosted by Cooma in New South Wales for the past six years will descend on Ballarat on March 18, with more than 200 musicians from across Victoria and interstate expected to attend.
The pre-registered performers will begin playing throughout the city at 9am, with judges and the public invited to have a say on who progresses through to the competition finals which will be held in the Minerva Space at the Mechanics Institute that night.
A prize pool of more than $10,000 will be up for grabs at the championships which are organised by the Rotary Club.
Event director Garry McKenzie said he hoped using the CBD as a performance space would help bring the city to life. He said organisers were encouraging businesses to register as a busking spot to ensure musicians would perform in their area.
“We are confident it will invigorate businesses throughout the city centre with an anticipated 30 or 400 busking spots throughout the CBD,” Mr McKenzie said.
Musicians wishing to enter are encouraged to visit buskingballarat.com.au.