Empty Bridge Mall shops being used to display work of Ballarat artists

Ballarat Evolve and the City of Ballarat are taking advantage of some of the empty shops in Bridge Mall to display the work of local artists while trying bring more pedestrian traffic to the mall.

Through the initiative, large vinyl decals have been placed on four empty shop windows in Bridge Mall with displays highlighting the work of 15 creatives, along with a QR code that links to each artists' website.

The initiative continues Ballarat Evolve's work to help artists produce and sell their work from empty retail spaces in the CBD.

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Ballarat Evolve project officer Kelsie White said the works came from a wide range of artists and mediums.

"It's all different... glass artists, visual artists, ceramicists and we've tried to get a really good variety of people from around the city as well, so different backgrounds, different cultures and their artistic practices," she said.

"These spaces obviously were empty, they were looking a bit sad and we have these incredible creatives in the city, so why not allow them to showcase their products in spaces that can easily be converted and used?"

The spaces also help draw attention of prospective tenants to the empty shops, with each decal also including contact details for those interested in renting the space.

Ms White said the displays were a good starting point for artists who were selling their work online but were not ready for a physical shopfront to themselves.

"That's a huge investment for a creative and to be at that level is another level. This gives them an opportunity to have a shop without having a shop, which is what Evolve does a lot of work around town doing.

"There are two artists that actually have bigger physical spaces here and this is for people who are maybe at that earlier stage in their career and they're just kind of feeling it out."

The project was made possible with a $20,000 contribution from the City of Ballarat and the decals are planned to remain up for as long as they are needed to, or until the spaces are leased.

City of Ballarat Mayor Daniel Moloney said the project helped two of the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic, arts and retail.

"When you can bring them both together and actually develop some mutual gain, I think that's an awesome outcome," he said.

"People have talked about bringing back more of a green space, more of an artistic space so what I love about this is not only is it helping generate people down here to look at the art and to stimulate the retail sector, but it's also helping us think about what the mall could be when it reopens the traffic late next year."

"I love the fact that there's some potential to get people to think a bit differently about what the mall can be in the years to come. More green spaces, more artistic spaces mixed in beautifully with retail."

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