Formerly known as the ‘Fringe’, the Open Program gives participants the opportunity to display their work alongside established artists in various establishments and venues across Ballarat.

BIFB artistic director Fiona Sweet said the 2017 Foto Biennale had over 100 artists exhibiting in the then Fringe Program.

She said businesses taking part found it an overwhelmingly positive experience.

“Most venues reported increases in turnover during this period,” Ms Sweet told The Courier.

“Many artists build strong and lasting friendships with the venue staff and management through their participation and many artists go on to present work outside of the Foto Biennale.”

A total of 78 Fringe venues opened through the 2017 Biennale. Two-thirds of those hosted a Fringe exhibition as part of the Biennale in previous years. Many said they hosted an exhibition to support the Biennale, support Ballarat culture and community, and to a lesser degree promote their business or support the local economy.

Ms Sweet says the BIFB is hoping to get as many, if not more, venues to take part in 2019.

She says changing the title from the ‘Fringe’ to the Open Program will hopefully inspire a greater number of artists and venues to participate.

“We consider it a more welcoming and inviting use of language,” Ms Sweet said.

The BIFB says participating venues need to be in and around CBD of Ballarat, as patrons generally walk around the city. The closer to the arts precinct, the better, Ms Sweet said.

Venues with a lots of wall space are ideal, even more so if they have a long wall space, with an ability to hang pictures or have hanging features attached by nailing or other means. Any existing artwork will need to be removed for the duration of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, and some artists will need a solo exhibition.

Venues will also need to be open on weekends. 

“Many of our 27,000 patrons in 2017 were unhappy if a store was closed on both Saturday and Sunday,”  she said. 

“Some cafes opened on weekends when they usually wouldn’t, and this led to them picking up lots of tourist trade.”

Businesses offering themselves as a venue must be able to commit to an eight-week exhibition, up from four last year, Ms Sweet says.

 The 2019 Open Program will offer a cash prize for one artist, chosen by domestic and international photographic industry leaders.

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale opens in August 2019.

Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.