In this episode, Vanessa Gerrans, CEO and Artistic Director of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, joins the team to share an exclusive preview of the 2025 festival—including headline exhibitions from Mapplethorpe, Campbell Addy, and the powerful legacy of photojournalist Catherine Leroy. Learn how to plan your visit, support emerging photographers, and get involved in Australia’s premier photography celebration. Then, stick around for the Random Show: new gear, film hauls, and an AI photo comp adventure featuring Chicken Man.
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Vanessa Gerrans is CEO & Artistic Director of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB Inc). She is developing the 11th Festival set to launch from 23 August to 19 October 2025.
Simultaneously, Gerrans is spearheading the development of the National Centre for Photography, set to transform the former Union Bank building in central Ballarat. Previously, Gerrans served as the Director of the Warrnambool Art Gallery from 2015 to 2022. During her tenure, she revitalised the gallery's cultural role in the region through innovative public and exhibition programs. Before her role at WAG, she spent over a decade at the RMIT Gallery. She holds a Masters in Art Curatorship from the University of Melbourne.
About the festival:
The Ballarat International Foto Biennale (Ballarat Foto) is a world-class arts organisation delivering an internationally significant photographic arts festival, activating the city of Ballarat and enriching the cultural landscape of Victoria and Australia, every two years.
Founded by Jeff Moorfoot OAM in 2005, it has grown into a world-class event, attracting over 250,000 attendees and generating $28 million in economic impact. The 2025 edition marks the festivals 11th anniversary.
Spanning 60 days from 23 August to 19 October, it features:
- A Core Program with international and Australian artists,
- An Open Program for emerging talent,
- Workshops, public programs, and artist residencies.
Ballarat Foto is also establishing the National Centre for Photography, a permanent gallery in a heritage-listed building in central Ballarat. It is part of several global networks, including the International Biennial Association, Asia Pacific Photoforum, and is the only Oceanic member of the Festival of Light.
https://ballaratfoto.org/
https://www.instagram.com/vanessagerrans/
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