New experiences inspire tourists to explore Ballarat's creative culture

From gold leafing in a bluestone cellar to capturing moody backstreets on film, a new series of creative experiences is set to take tourists off the beaten path with local makers and creators this autumn.

The new series of Made of: Ballarat Experiences invites visitors to explore Ballarat’s thriving creative culture by taking part in a hands-on workshop with one of seven local creatives.

Launching this autumn, the raft of new experiences is ideal for holidaymakers looking for a deeper form of escape and have been created to serve as the centrepiece of a weekend getaway.

Workshops range from creating a stencilled painting with Laura Day and learning the art of embellishing vintage prints with pure gold leaf with Linda Franklin, to casting silver jewellery with Claire Ardle, painting ceramic pots at Ivy&Coco and mastering wild clay with Steph Wallace.

Meanwhile, walking tours with photographer Jacqueline Matisse and poet Megan J Riedl round out the series.

Developed by the City of Ballarat’s Visitor Economy Unit as part of its Creative Tourism Experiences Development Program, the initiative has been designed to encourage and nurture local artists and creatives to take their hobby to the next level.

Program participant and award-winning poet Megan J Riedl said the initiative has provided her a platform to merge her creative practice into a tourism offering that invites people into the world of a local artist.

“Ballarat has such a vibrant creative scene with so many talented and hardworking artists who are doing exciting work in little corners of the city, and a program like this helps to elevate this work to new audiences,” she said.

“I applied for this program to learn new skills and have the support to step into a space that challenged me.

“The program was intensive and thorough, but the team were really welcoming and so supportive – sharing so much knowledge, but also respectful of my ideas and my expertise with my own practice.”

Bookings are now being taken for the new Made of: Ballarat Experiences, which will continue to run throughout the year.

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said the ability to give artisans and creatives a path to grow was an important part of building a strong and viable visitor economy.

“Locals are the creators of the Ballarat experience and supporting their development is vital to the success of the wider tourism industry,” he said.

“These experiences reflect our status as a Creative City of Craft and Folk Art and give visitors an opportunity to connect with local artisans and experience Ballarat in a deeper way.

“With experiences ranging from two to three hours, they are the type of enriching experiences you can do on your own or with your family and friends.”
 
The Visitor Economy Unit is now exploring a new experience series featuring the outdoors and nature, with an Expression of Interest expected to launch mid-March.

Find out more about the new series Made of: Ballarat Experiences here