Set to become the largest visual art festival showcasing living Australian artists, the inaugural ‘Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA)’ features over 150 creatives presenting more than 1,500 artworks in 150 venues across Ballarat in 2018 from 21 September to 6 November.
‘BOAA’ tells the stories of our past, present and future, reflecting what it means to be Australian today, celebrating our multiculturalism with a strong Aboriginal focus. With three dedicated art zones, or ‘villages’, the historical gold rush city will shine with a mix of major indoor and outdoor installations, solo exhibitions, and small intimate projects. Highlights include one-off performance events, and a sculpture trail exhibition of 36 day and night projects sited around Lake Wendouree. ‘Art in Odd Places’ involves a network of hidden stories in unexpected locations throughout the CBD, using geocaches to create an audience engaging experience. The diversity of our vast country and its many interpretations will be displayed in eight major works, each measuring 8-metres in length, depicting ‘The Great Australian Landscape’ by artists from each state and territory.
A travelling exhibition of over 75 shoe box-sized artworks, to help officially announce the selected artists and program for BOAA 2018 is currently on show; ‘BOAA Pop Up’ on the corner of Melbourne’s Little Bourke Street and Cleave Lane Friday 6 October, at Hepburn Pavilion in Hepburn Springs, 48km northeast of Ballarat from 4 to 7 November. During the 12-month lead up the BOAA education program offers school engagement, visual arts forums, artist talks and workshops.

Natalie Rosin, Border Control, white stoneware clay, Eisblume glaze, 23.5 x 10 x 9cm. Courtesy the artist and Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA), Victoria