“ A living, breathing, creative arts hub in the heart of the CBD is further cementing Ballarat’s reputation as a Creative City.”
The Ballarat Arts Incubator at 36 Camp Street, Ballarat Central, has been established as a space for experimentation for creative industry and practice.
The Incubator includes rehearsal spaces for music, dedicated zones for young people, theatre development spaces for writing and workshopping, quiet zones for administration, and film studios for production.
With distinct studio spaces, the Incubator is home to five different organisations – each licensing the spaces and providing access to the public. The organisations include:
QCTV: the creators of LaNCE TV, Ballarat’s signature LGBTIQA+ weekly variety and talk show will be filming and producing from the Arts Incubator film studios. LaNCE TV is known as the show behind the career of Gabriella Labucci who is currently starring on Ru Paul’s Drag Race Downunder. The film studios is available to book by community members and the private sector.
Outlet Studio: offering a much-needed rehearsal space and music workshop, Outlet has been founded by musicians Sarah Spaven and Zerene Jaadwa Webster. The space is bookable by those looking to become performance ready.
The Rat Lab: developing new theatre and performance works, The Rat Lab is a project initiated by Emma Mary Hall. Currently offering workshops and networking, as well as a dedicated writing room. The space is bookable for workshop and rehearsal.
Ballarat Evolve: delivering successful activations of underutilised commercial spaces across the city, Ballarat Evolve will now use an office space to interview candidates and run mentoring, as well as providing support spaces for the Ballarat Arts Foundation.
Youth Services: the City of Ballarat Youth Services team are accessing much-needed safe spaces for young people. Open to public access, young people are encouraged to join programs and take part in creative initiatives.
Entrance to the Arts Incubator with artwork by public artists Steph Cartledge and Spencer Harrison
Accessible night and day, the Arts Incubator offers rehearsal spaces, quiet zones and collaboration opportunities.
how do i get involved?
Each of the five studio spaces are operated by identified organisations. Each of them are offering different services and different levels of accessibility. We encourage you to reach out directly to the licensees through their contacts above to find out availabilities and in some instances costings for the use of the space.
how were the organisations selected?
The City of Ballarat undertook an application and assessment process for each organisation. This process was also structured around interviews and ensuring that the services offered were complementary to each other. Each of the groups are dedicated to ensuring the spaces are active and regularly utilised with a significant proportion of time available for community and public access.
how long will the arts incubator be operational?
The Arts Incubator is a trial for a two year period, working in conjunction with Creative Victoria, the Department of Education and the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership. The space has been made available rent-free, with operational costs covered by the City of Ballarat.
how will success of the arts incubator be measured?
The Arts Incubator will be measured through the ability of participating organisations to work together and collaborate, the level of productive output and time the space is activated. We will also be tracking collaborations and integrations between the occupants of the building and the relationships formed outside the building.
who has supported the arts incubator?
The City of Ballarat has supported the operation and coordination of the space, working in concert with the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership. Creative Victoria has supported the establishment of the space with a $75,000 grant.