Ballarat businesses and organisations who changed what they do and how they do it throughout the coronavirus pandemic are in the spotlight of a new photographic project for the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
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BIFB artistic director Fiona Sweet has put out a call for those who have changed the way they do things to put their hands up to be part of the Pivot photography project, which is being conducted in partnership with Committee for Ballarat.
"We aim to shine a light on the clever and innovative business community within Ballarat, which has thrived during the crisis," Ms Sweet said.
Photographer Jackson Gallagher, who grew up in Ballarat, has worked as photographer for the ABC and has shot for non-government organisations in Jordan, East Timor and Cambodia, and has been engaged to capture how Ballarat was able to pivot to meet the demands of COVID.
One of the first businesses he will shoot this month is Gekko Industries, who switched from building equipment for the mining industry, to produce cost-efficient hospital ventilators.
"Gekko Systems is an excellent example of how a business can use their expertise in one area and apply it to an entirely different one which aids the current pandemic and places Ballarat firmly on the map as a region producing life-saving medical technology," Ms Sweet said.
But she stressed it wasn't just for big business - all businesses, organisations, practitioners, even schools could be considered.
"It's about really trying to make sure we capture all those business in Ballarat and and surrounds who have done something different, extraordinary or unusual through the last eight months of the pandemic," Ms Sweet said.
"We can find who we can find through word of mouth but as we start this project we want to make we sure capture all the narrative. It's really important to make sure the community knows what we are doing and can share their story, or other people's stories, about how these great business thinkers in Ballarat have adapted, pivoted."
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Ms Sweet approached Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton to partner with BIFB in the project.
"With all the disruption, so too came innovation, ingenuity, collaboration, and enterprise. To capture this through the lens of Jackson Gallagher's camera will tell the stories of great hope that has existed in our community", Mr Poulton said.
Anyone wanting to share the story of a successful local 'pivot' business or organisation can email info@ballaratfoto.org.
