Creative elements at the Ballarat Heritage Festival

Ballarat’s iconic Heritage Festival returns in May 2024 with something for everybody. If you’re seeking to explore creativity and cultural heritage with a contemporary twist, there’s certainly fun to be had.

Whether you’re interested in getting your hands dirty, or understanding the secrets of creative practice, or you’re just looking for innovative and experimental experiences – there's a host of things to taste, try and test.  

Ballarat is a region made up of diverse creative skills with a layered history, and the Heritage Festival showcases only a fraction of what Ballarat has to offer.    

The Great Takeaway  

This is a unique event where attendees can dine amongst some of the finest artefacts made by regional creative practitioners, and at the end of the meal they get to take the artwork home.  

The Great Takeaway is a tailored dinner for only 60 guests who will be seated in the exhibition display of Craft Lab at the Ballarat Mining Exchange to enjoy a three-course meal with drinks and entertainment.

The tables will be curated and dressed by high-profile local ceramicists with each supplying a handcrafted main and side plate. The settings are matched with locally made glassware and napery.

Diners will take home their own setting of curated cutlery, plates and glassware, valued at more than $400 per setting.  

The menu will be designed by Peasant Ballarat and will take into consideration the design styles of each of the makers, the food will merge continental European fare with local produce.  

Not only will a fantastic meal and an incredible take-home pack be available for guests, but they will also be able to view the Craft Lab displays, entertainment throughout the evening and a full three-course meal paired with drinks.  

Tickets are flying out the door to this exclusive event, get yours before they sell out at www.creativeballarat.com.au/the-great-takeaway-24  

Craft Lab  

Over both weekends of the Heritage Festival, Craft Lab returns to the Ballarat Mining Exchange. Craft Lab 24 marks the traditional artisanal skills matched with contemporary treatment.

The free event allows visitors to meet and talk with more than 15 demonstrating practitioners. The event also features a central display of exceptional handcrafted work by more than 30 artisans from Ballarat and the surrounding regions.

Visitors can see ceramicists, jewellers, leatherworkers and basket makers, shoemakers, glassblowers, quilters, weavers and doll artists.

Craft Lab will be held on 18 – 19 May and 25 - 26 May from 10am – 5pm at the Ballarat Mining Exchange.  

UNESCO Creative Cities of Crafts and Folk Art Subnetwork meeting

The City of Ballarat will play host to the UNESCO Creative Cities subnetwork meeting during the Ballarat Heritage Festival at the Centre for Rare Trades and Forgotten Trades on Saturday 25 May 2024.  

Upwards of 30 representatives out of the 64 Creative Cities will be coming in person to Ballarat for the meeting. The meeting will focus on the synergy of education and culture for sustainable futures.  

The conference will hear from representatives from South Korea, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Philippines and Australia.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said hosting the UNESCO Creative Cities in Ballarat is a great honour.  

“The subnetwork meeting offers a great opportunity for us to showcase to other creatives how amazing our city is during the iconic Ballarat Heritage Festival,” he said.  

For a full program of the Ballarat Heritage Festival highlights visit ballaratheritagefestival.com.au