Ballarat International Foto Biennale 2025 program announced

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB) has released the full program for its 2025 edition, which runs from 23 August to 19 October.

This year’s theme is Lifeforce, and it ties into an eight-week program of exhibitions, public art, talks, and workshops across more than 100 venues throughout Ballarat.

The Capsule, Louis Petruccelli.
The Capsule, Louis Petruccelli.

Presented by Intrepid Travel, the festival will feature over 360 artists and bring together Australian and international photographers, digital artists, and creative practitioners. The program includes Australian-exclusive exhibitions, world premieres, and large-scale outdoor installations.

Vanessa Gerrans, Artistic Director and CEO of the Biennale, said the 2025 edition celebrates the creative drive that connects artists with audiences. “This year’s program reflects a wide range of perspectives through photography and visual storytelling, offering visitors the chance to engage with both established and emerging voices.”

The Biennale is massive, with countless events and exhibitions over the eight week long festival. Here are a few highlights:

Key Exhibitions

I Love Campbell, Campbell Addy, 2023.
I Love Campbell, Campbell Addy, 2023.
  • I ❤ Campbell | Campbell Addy
    Ballarat Mining Exchange
    Australian-exclusive presentation of portrait and fashion photography by British Ghanaian artist Campbell Addy, whose subjects include Naomi Campbell, Beyoncé and Lizzo.

Robert Mapplethorpe, Patti Smith, 1975
© Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation.
Used by Permission.
Robert Mapplethorpe, Patti Smith, 1975 © Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. Used by Permission.
  • Enninful x Mapplethorpe | Robert Mapplethorpe
    Post Office Gallery
    Curated by Edward Enninful OBE, this exhibition recontextualises 46 works by Robert Mapplethorpe for new audiences.

Civilian population fleeing before the arrival of North
Vietnamese troops, near Saigon, 29 April 1975 © Dotation
Catherine Leroy
Civilian population fleeing before the arrival of North Vietnamese troops, near Saigon, 29 April 1975 © Dotation Catherine Leroy
  • Catherine Leroy: One Way Ticket to Vietnam 1966–1968
    Ballarat Town Hall
    The first comprehensive exhibition of French photojournalist Catherine Leroy’s work from the Vietnam War.

Long Exposure: The Legacy of Prahran College
Robert Ashton, Bush Zebra (detail), 2024.
Wet plate collodion glass plates.
Courtesy of the artist.
Long Exposure: The Legacy of Prahran College Robert Ashton, Bush Zebra (detail), 2024. Wet plate collodion glass plates. Courtesy of the artist.
  • Long Exposure: The Legacy of Prahran College
    Miners Tavern
    A group show featuring 50 artists shaped by the former Prahran College of Advanced Education.

  • Thành Phẩm | Lê Nguyên Phương
    Ballarat Library
    A counter-archive of personal and family photographs exploring Vietnamese perspectives on the Vietnam War.

Nature~ista
Leila Jeffreys, Superb Fruit Dove.
From the series Ornithurae, 2017.
Nature~ista Leila Jeffreys, Superb Fruit Dove. From the series Ornithurae, 2017.
  • Nature~ista | Leila Jeffreys and Maria Fernanda Cardoso
    RACV Goldfields Resort
    A joint exhibition that looks at the characteristics of wildlife through photography and sculpture.

  • Prompted Peculiar International AI Prize
    Miners Tavern
    An exhibition of selected entries exploring the role of artificial intelligence in creative practice.

  • Hagoromo (Full Flower Moon) | Hiromi Tango
    RACV Goldfields Resort
    A new body of work informed by Japanese theatre and cultural traditions, reflecting on identity and grief.

  • Martin Kantor Portrait Prize
    GovHub
    The $15,000 acquisitive prize highlights new work in contemporary portrait photography.

Outdoor and Public Art

The Biennale’s outdoor program will activate Ballarat’s streets, laneways and public spaces. Highlights include:

Mumu Mirri Dave Jones with Dr Deanne Gilson
Artist’s impression, 2025.
Courtesy of Dave Jones.
Mumu Mirri Dave Jones with Dr Deanne Gilson Artist’s impression, 2025. Courtesy of Dave Jones.
  • Mumu Mirri | Dave Jones and Dr Deanne Gilson
    Exterior of the National Centre for Photography
    A large sculptural work referencing the Bogong Moth, significant in First Nations cultural heritage.

  • Memory Matrix | Jody Haines and Debasish Mukherjee
    Bridge Mall and The Goods Shed
    A collaborative installation examining memory, place and identity.

  • High Exposure
    Various laneways
    Works by emerging Ballarat-based artists responding to the theme Lifeforce.

  • GradFoto
    GovHub Precinct Gardens
    New work by recent Australian photography graduates.

  • Guma | Leicolhn McKellar
    Alfred Deakin Place
    A digital artwork exploring connections between language, place and identity.

Events and Programs

The Biennale also includes a series of public programs, artist talks and community events:

  • Lifeforce Gala
    23 August, Ballarat Mining Exchange
    An opening event in support of the Biennale’s programming and artist support initiatives.

  • The Art of Lunch
    24 August, RACV Goldfields Resort
    A hosted lunch and artist conversation featuring Campbell Addy, Lê Nguyên Phương and Hiromi Tango.

  • Todd Hido in Conversation
    4 September, The Goods Shed
    A discussion with the American photographer, presented in partnership with Leica Australia.

  • Women Shaping Photojournalism
    14 September, 101 Lydiard
    A conversation with photojournalists Christina Simons, Carla Gottgens and Penny Stephens. Supported by Nikon Australia.

  • Negotiating the Nude
    13 September, Craig’s Royal Hotel
    A full-day photography workshop focused on approaches to photographing the nude.

  • Country Struts Line Dancing
    18 October, Ballarat Mining Exchange
    A free community dance event suitable for all skill levels.

  • The Passion of Joan of Arc Screening
    19 October, Ballarat Performing Arts Community
    A screening of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 silent film with a curated soundtrack by Erik Satie.

Additional Information

This year’s program includes pop-up shows in cafes and bars across the city. All ticket holders will be entered into a prize draw to win an Intrepid Travel experience worth up to $15,000.

For the full program and ticket details, visit ballaratfoto.org.