Ballarat's Arts Scene Draws Crowds With Installations, Festivals, Exhibitions

Hidden 2026 transformed Ballarat's Civic Hall into a micro-festival with six large-scale inflatable art installations by artists including Jay Kulbardi and Atropa.Studios from July 10 to 12.

Recent activity at Civic Hall and Backspace Gallery

The Ballarat Performing Arts Community, formed in 2023, operates the Ballarat Performing Arts Centre at Neill St on the site of the former Neil St Uniting Church and supports ongoing programming. Exhibitions continue at the Backspace Gallery on 43 Mair St while the Art Gallery of Ballarat undergoes building upgrades that began in March 2025.

These efforts keep public access to visual arts available on central streets even as major works proceed at the primary gallery site.

August line-up and broader calendar

Upcoming events listed for August include the Ballarat Blues Festival on August 24, Melbourne International Film Festival screenings from August 22 to 24, and the Nerrida Parfitt and Peter Tankey Exhibition from August 23 to 24. Ballarat currently lists more than 56 concerts and festivals featuring touring artists such as NORTHLANE and Pete Murray at Her Majesty's Theatre and the Wendouree Centre for the Performing Arts.

Residents and visitors can review current listings through the Visit Ballarat platform or the Courier notice board to plan attendance at these venues and programs.