Ballarat's Winter Arts Scene Heats Up as New Exhibitions and live Shows Hit Town

Ballarat’s arts and entertainment calendar is packed this July, with a surge of new exhibitions, live performances and community workshops drawing locals and visitors alike into the city’s creative spaces. The Lydiard Street gallery precinct alone has added six new shows since the start of winter, according to the City of Ballarat’s events listings.

This burst of activity comes as the state’s cultural sector continues to recover from a prolonged downturn. Victoria’s arts industry lost an estimated $2.5 billion in revenue during the pandemic years, a figure the Arts Industry Council of Victoria has cited in its advocacy for more local programming. Ballarat, with its growing population and proximity to Melbourne, has become a testing ground for mid-sized regional shows that might otherwise bypass the area.

What’s on the walls

The Art Gallery of Ballarat, on Lydiard Street North, opened its winter salon series on July 4. The show features more than 40 works by living Australian artists, including several from the Ballarat region. Entry costs $15 for adults, with concessions available. The gallery has extended its Thursday evening hours until 8 pm to accommodate after-work visitors. Over on Sturt Street, the Backspace Gallery is hosting a group show of emerging painters, all under 30, curated by the Ballarat Arts Foundation. That show runs until August 1 and is free to enter.

Meanwhile, the Her Majesty’s Theatre on Lydiard Street will stage the musical comedy “Six” from July 23 to July 26. Tickets range from $59 to $89, depending on seating. The theatre’s manager, Justine Roberts, told the Ballarat Courier earlier this month that advance bookings were “stronger than expected” for a winter run, with matinee performances already close to selling out.

Live music and workshops

The live music scene has its own momentum. The Eastern Hotel, on Main Road, hosts a free jazz gig every Sunday afternoon in July, featuring local ensembles like the Luke Smart Trio and the Sturt Street Stompers. The bar’s kitchen serves a winter menu, including a $16 slow-cooked lamb pie that has drawn positive reviews on local food blogs. Over at the Ballarat Regional Community Hub on Maude Street, a series of weekend pottery and printmaking workshops is running through July and August. Each session costs $25 and includes materials. Bookings are available through the hub’s website.

For families, the Ballarat Children’s Festival, a fixture of the winter calendar, returns on July 18 and 19. Organised by the City of Ballarat and supported by Creative Victoria, the festival includes puppet shows, storytelling sessions and art-making stations in the central library and the adjoining Alfred Deakin Place. Entry is free, though some workshops require a gold-coin donation.

What comes next? The city’s arts calendar tends to quieten after August, ahead of the spring racing carnival. But for now, the season is alive. Check individual venue websites for up-to-date ticket availability and COVID-19 safety protocols. If you’re planning a night out on Lydiard Street, book dinner early, the restaurants and pubs there are reporting fuller bookings than this time last year.