Resources and Training
The City of Ballarat works with a wide cross section of creative people within the community to understand the types of resources and training needed. From basic information on whether you’re eligible for grants across to whether you might need to charge GST, or providing you with a chance to meet experts, commentators, curators and others. Below you will find a collection of videos, websites and information sheets to assist and guide you in your professional practice. Resources come from a range of organisations that support artists such as Creative Victoria, Arts Council Australia, NAVA and Arts+Law. Topics range from guidelines to working in the community to advice regarding funding, marketing and support for wellbeing. Check back regularly to see what new training and resources are available.
Upcoming Professional Development
Preparing Your Maker Business for Wholesale and Retail
WHEN: Saturday 30 may 2026
TimES: 10.30am - 12.30pm
WHERE: co-lab, Ballarat central library
Cost: Free
Interested in selling your creative products to retail and wholesalers but not sure where to begin?
Join Angela D'Alton (Co-Founder of D'Alton Baker Productions) for a 2-hour session delving into the practicalities of:
- preparing your business for wholesale and retail,
- approaching wholesalers and retailers and
- managing wholesale relationships efficiently.
Topics covered include:
- Understanding the differences between direct sales, wholesale and retail relationships
- Pricing strategy and ensuring margins work for wholesale
- Researching suitable retailers and stockists
- Making a first approach
- Streamlining order management and customer information and more.
The session includes a 90-minute presentation to be followed by Q&A. There will be a short break and light refreshments.
Bookings essential.
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About the presenter…
Angela D'Alton has an extensive career in working with creatives from her role as Community Manager in charge of Seller Education at Etsy, to working with events businesses such as The Finders Keepers and the Garage Sail Trail.
D'Alton Baker Productions have been guiding members of the makers community providing resources and educational support since 2016. Their online education platform Make Good Things Happen provides a space for online community to receive online education resources and connection with peers.
Creative’s Catch Up at The Gallery Stumdio
WHEN: friday 19 June 2026
TimES: 10.30am - 12.00pm
WHERE: the gallery studio, Art Gallery of
ballarat, Alfred Deakin Place
federation UNIversity
Cost: Free
We are very excited to have our next Creative’s Catch Up hosted at the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s new Gallery Studio, located in Federation University’s Arts Precinct.
Meet the Creative City and Art Gallery teams, hear about all the happenings and opportunities in our Creative City, and if you have a project, event, launch, call out or workshop you’d like to share with everyone, grab the mic for the 30 second shout out.
The Creative Catch Up is open to creatives of all levels and across all arts sectors to come along, connect and maybe even find a future collaborator. We hope to see you there.
Light refreshments will be provided, so please register your attendance.
Photo by Coulter Productions at the February 2026 Creative’s Catch Up at BPAC.
Grant Writing Workshop Series with Anzara Clark
WHEN: Saturday 27 June, 4 July and 11 July 2026
TimES: 9.45am - 1.15pm (with break)
WHERE: co-lab, Ballarat central library
Cost: Free
Grant and funding programs in the arts can be an important income sources and also provide significant development and profiling opportunities. This professional development series of workshops has been designed to provide artists and arts workers with the skills and knowledge to support grant writing activities, including;
· Identifying and analysing grant and funding opportunities;
· Understanding grant and funding programs and application requirements;
· Preparation for grant and funding applications;
· Writing submissions, developing budgets & project plans, gathering support
material;
· Maximising chances of a successful application.
This workshop series consists of 3 workshops (1 theoretical and 2 practical). Each session includes a short break and time for Q&A.
Workshop 1 - Writing Grant and Funding Applications - (Seminar Format)
SATURDAY 27 JUNE, 9.45AM - 1.15PM
Learn more about responding to grant and funding applications in the arts sector. Grant application guidelines and forms can be daunting, especially if you are new to the application process. Whether you are new to grant writing or would like to be able to navigate the process with less stress, this seminar style workshop will cover the different aspects and stages of grant writing.
This workshop will cover finding opportunities, constructing budgets, responding to selection criteria, gaining references, and compiling support material; through to writing and project development tips.
Workshop 2 - Preparing for Grant & Funding Application Writing - (Practical)
SATURDAY 4 JULY, 9.45AM - 1.15PM
Writing grant and funding applications is easier if you are well prepared before you start a submission. In this hands-on workshop, set yourself up for success and easier writing by thinking about the bigger picture.
Develop a Practice and Development Plan and support documents that will allow you to understand your arts practice, and target opportunities that will support your growth. Preparing background information and documents will allow you to respond quickly and professionally when funding opportunities arise.
Workshop 3 - Writing Grant and Funding Applications - (Practical Format)
SATURDAY 11 JULY, 9.45AM - 1.15PM
In this practical workshop, apply the knowledge from the first workshop in this series and learn grant writing skills in a hands-on format, working through the preparation of budgets, project plans and criterion responses and application questions. Support material options will also be considered. Real application examples will be discussed and compared, and space will be given for sharing, feedback and questions.
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NOTES:
Participants can attend one, two or all three sessions.
Registration is required.
Sessions will include a short break and light refreshments.
About the presenter…
Anzara Clark is a Ballarat based multidisciplinary artist and designer who combines traditional craft and contemporary experimental approaches in her studio practice.
Prior to her arts career, Anzara worked in education and training, primarily in the West Australian TAFE sector, undertaking roles including lecturing, resource and curriculum development, research and development, consulting, program management and academic executive roles. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Murdoch University, a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment and a Graduate Diploma in Education.
In recent years she has been a Peer Assessment Panel member for the Creative Victoria Collaborative Learning Partnership grant program and is a current Peer Assessment Pool member for Regional Arts Australia.
RESOURCES
Writing about you and your creative practice
Writing by Megan J Riedl. Photographer Tony Evans
LinkedIn Learning Online Courses
The City of Ballarat Library offers access to library members access to LinkedIn Learning where many thousands of hours of video training and online courses can be accessed. Categories of content are Business, Technology and Creative.
Find videos to support or extend your creative practice or business and upskill in your own time, at your own pace.
It’s tax time - I’m an Artist : Business Basics Series
Aimed at artists and creatives, Accountant Tim Gay answers questions relating to profit making, GST, taxes, record keeping and insurance. Check out each, informative and entertaining video below.
Professional advice for your creative practice
Information sheets by Arts Law
MORAL RIGHTS
LICESNING
CULTURAL & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
AUSPICE AGREEMENTS
CONTRACT TEMPLATES
INFORMATION SHEETS BY COPYRIGHT AUSTRALIA COUNCIL
INTRODUCTION TO COPYRIGHT
COPYRIGHT & EDITORS
COPYRIGHT & PHOTOGRAPHY
COPYRIGHT & MUSIC
COPYRIGHT & PERFORMANCE ART
CREATIVE COMMON LICENCES
PROTECTING YOUR COPYRIGHT
Photography by Chris Warr.
PAST TRAINING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Creative Catch UP
February 2026
Join us at the first Creative Catch Up for 2026 at the home of the Ballarat Performing Arts Community (BPAC). Hear more about BPAC from General Manager Beth Lamont. Meet local creatives from across all the arts sectors, hear updates on opportunities, projects and events from the Creative City team and take the mic for and share your own update in our 30sec call out round.
Connecting creative’s
Speed Meet - Dec 25
A night of quick connections. Meet new people from Ballarat's arts community in this fun evening of one-on-one meets.
Are you new to Ballarat and looking to connect with local creatives? Perhaps you're a local creative looking to meet artists working in different sectors.
Spring creative’s catch up
BOtanic Gardens - Nov 25
Join the Creative City team and fellow artists, makers, performers, writers, designers, crafters… to share updates on arty news, opportunities and projects.
Creative’s are invited to take the mic and share their latest news on gigs, exhibitions, workshops, awards or call out for support. Meet and mingle over a cup of coffee in the spring sunshine in the gardens of the Robert Clark Centre, just opposite the Conservatory.
Unlock your creativity with canva - OCT 25
Join Emma Hall from The Ginkgo Tree Creative Studio for a hands-on, beginner-friendly Canva workshop where you’ll learn how to get the most out of Canva’s free version. Explore step-by-step how to define your branding, and then design flyers, videos and social media graphics that reflect you and your creative business.
Expressions of Interest (EOI) Success Strategies. Sept 2025
Join Anindita Banerjee, Public Art Officer, as she shares insight in what makes a strong application. What is a must when responding to an EOI to be considered and what are reviewers of applications looking for?
The Perks of Regional Arts Victoria & CRAFT & MaV Memberships.
September 2025
Join Theresa Angela (Multicultural Arts Victoria), Nicola Bryant (Program & Engagement Coordinator, CRAFT) and Kate Gerritsen (Director, Communications & Engagement, Regional Arts Victoria) to hear about the benefits of becoming a member of CRAFT and RAV.
outWARds: Ballarat.
Women’s Register 50th Anniversary Roadshow
MAy 2025
Join the Women's Art Register's 50th Anniversary celebrations as they launch their National Roadshow OUTWARDS here in Ballarat!
Digital Marketing Masterclass for the Music Sector. june 2025
Join Erin Lyall and Ashlea O'Loughlin—co-founders of Social Season—for a masterclass in music marketing that blends digital strategy with real-world results.
Grant writing workshop with Auspicious Arts - August 2025
Never written a grant application? Perhaps you have and not had much success.
What should you include in an application? Is this grant the right one for you?
creative’s catch-up
august 2025
Hear from the Creative City team about upcoming projects, events and opportunities and take the mic to share your creative updates and news.
Meet local artists from all sectors in a casual gathering and perhaps meet your next collaborator.
One-on-One Mentoring for Small Creative BusinesS-
June 2025
Creative City Ballarat engaged Sophia D'Urso from ArtSupport Australia to engage with local creatives in the early stages of their small creative, Ballarat
Tips for photographing your artwork with David Bailey
JUNE 2025
Join photographer and trainer David Bailey from Obscura Cameras as he provides practical tips and advice on how to photograph your artworks (2D and 3D) in your own homes and studios.
Creative’s Coffee Catch UP
MAy 2025
Local artists from all sectors joined the Creative City team along with Kristy Witmitz, Venues Manager at the City of Ballarat and fellow creatives for a catch up on all the latest news, events and opportunities in town.
Copyright Basics for Ballarat Creatives with the Australian Copyright Council - April 2025
The Australian Copyright Council has been invited to present a one-hour online session that will introduce the basics of copyright law followed by a Q&A session.
Workshop - Learn to create your own reels
Mar & apr 2025
Have you wanted to create a video reel for your socials to promote a gig, exhibition or project but not quite sure how to go about it?
Join Jarrod Hall from The Gingko Tree Creative Studio for a session to help you get you started and ready to upload videos in no time.
careers in craft
Feb 2025
Join us for Careers in Craft, a dynamic professional development day tailored for creatives in Ballarat and surrounding areas.
As part of the Craft Lab 25 program, this event will empower you with the tools, insights, and inspiration to elevate your craft practice and creative business.
creatives catch up at kanks
Feb 2025
Join the Creative City team and fellow artists, makers, performers, musicians, writers, designers and crafters at out next Creative Catch Up. Here about the latest creative opportunities and upcoming events. Tell us about your projects and creative plans.
Wellbeing for creatives
Below are current resources to support the creative sector and help navigate wellbeing of artists.
Ballarat Arts Incubator
A space to explore, experiment & Collaborate
The Ballarat Arts Incubator located 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. Spaces can be booked via the organisation licenced to each space.
CREATIVE SECTOR ORGANISATIONS (VICTORIA)
Click on the logo to access each organisations website.