Ballarat International Foto Biennale

Venue: Ballarat
Location: 12 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat (Festival Hub) and other venues
26 Aug - 22 Oct, 2023
Web: https://ballaratfoto.org

Founded in 2005, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale is Australia’s most significant and prestigious photographic festival. The not-for-profit event is held in the historic town of Ballarat, immersing the city in photographic art across its galleries, laneways and cultural spaces. Now in its 19th year, the 60-day event attracts incredible international and Australian photographers, enriching the cultural landscape of regional Victoria every two years.

BIFB 2023 is a catalyst for conversation. This year our theme, The Real Thing is a provocation and a nostalgic call to come and see what is real.

BIFB opens the conversation about photography as an art form to a wider audience, not only championing the work of local, national and international photographers but also offering masterclasses, competitions, community programs, interactive exhibitions and more.

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale is currently developing a permanent gallery and art institution. The National Centre for Photography will be located in a beautiful heritage-listed former bank building in the heart of Ballarat.

Jeff Moorfoot OAM is the founder of the organisation, starting the event in the regional Victorian town of Daylesford before it relocated to Ballarat as the festival expanded. Jeff retired in 2015 as the driving force behind Australia’s largest and most comprehensive international festival of photography. Future festivals have featured renowned artists including David LaChapelle, Liu Bolin and The Linda McCartney: Retrospective.

Since its inception, BIFB has seen audiences grow to over 240,000 and has contributed more than $17 million in direct economic impact.

BIFB is an invited member of the International Biennale Association and led the formation of the Asia Pacific Photoforum. It is the only Oceanic Member of the Festival of Light and is now in the process of establishing a National Centre for Photography (NCFP) in Ballarat.

Upcoming Events Submit an Event

February

New Light: Photography Now + Then

Brisbane: Until 13 July 2025. Amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954) extraordinary images lay dormant for decades until they were discovered only recently. This exhibition is curated by seven Brisbane photographers.

Level 3, Brisbane City Hall King George Square, Brisbane 4000 Museum of Brisbane. Level 3 City Hall. | 1 Feb - 13 Jul, 2025

Henry Roy - Impossible Island

Perth: Until 18 May 2025. Henry Roy – Impossible Island draws on 40-years of recollections and observations as it brings together 113 photos taken from 1983 to 2023.

Perth Cultural Centre, Perth The Art Gallery of Western Australia | 1 Feb - 18 May, 2025

PIX – The magazine that changed everything (1938-1972)

Sydney: Until 31 Dec 2025. PIX, Australia’s first pictorial news weekly, is brought to life in this exhibition, showcasing its archived images and stories for the very first time.

1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney State Library of NSW | 1 Feb - 31 Dec, 2025

Max Dupain – Student Life

Sydney: Until 30 June. The photographs in Max Dupain: Student Life were taken at the University of Sydney in the early 1950s, a period of rapid change marked by the politics of the Cold War.

Level 4, Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney, University Place, Camperdown Level 4, Chau Chak Wing Museum | 1 Feb - 29 Jun, 2025

DANCER: A National Portrait Gallery touring exhibition

Melbourne: Until 26 April 2025. The exhibition features 52 works from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection of dance legends and reflects the freedom and joy of dance and its power to connect.

27-37 Davey St Frankston vic 3199 Frankston Arts Centre | 7 Feb - 26 Apr, 2025

Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition

Sydney: Until 27 April 2025. Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition. Featuring 118 extraordinary images, this exhibition explores the awe-inspiring beauty and fragility of our oceans.

2 Murray Street Darling Harbour, Sydney NSW 2000 Australian National Maritime Musuem | 19 Feb - 27 Apr, 2025

Fit to Print: Defining Moments from the Fairfax Photo Archive

Canberra: 27 Feb until 20 July 2025. The National Library has invited renowned Australian photojournalist Mike Bowers to select some of his favourite images from the Fairfax Photo Archive.

Parkes Place West, Parkes Canberra The National Library | 23 Feb - 20 Jul, 2025