Discover creativity and history at our Community Galleries. Our vibrant gallery spaces showcase artworks, unique items and stories from local community groups, talented artists and our own heritage collections.
For exhibition queries, please contact us.
Hidden Histories: The Photographic Work of Bon Strange
As part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival, Ballarat Libraries presents Hidden Histories: The Photographic Work of Bon Strange.
This exhibition showcases the work of Ballarat photographer Bon Strange (1913-2002). Bon was a founding member of the Ballarat Camera Club in the late 1930s and captured familiar Ballarat landscapes and streetscapes with skill and creativity. Bon was self-taught and experimented with exposure, light and other techniques to create a remarkable folio of work. A keen naturalist, Bon also contributed to the understanding of local native flora and fauna.
Hidden Histories: The Photographic Work of Bon Strange is on show at Ballarat Library from Friday 1 May to Monday 1 June 2026.
Join us for the official exhibition opening by Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves and a curatorial talk by Heritage Librarian, Mia Peardon at 11am on Sunday 10 May.
Previous exhibitions:
Wisdom of Art by Arthur Creative: Melba Support
Wisdom of Art brings together the voices of 30 self-taught artists who attend Arthur Creative workshops.
Across painting, sculpture, mixed media, drawing, and experimental forms, the artists demonstrate how creative wisdom emerges through experimentation and curiosity. Their works explore themes of identity, memory, nature, community, and transformation. This exhibition celebrates artistic intuition, individual expression, and the diverse ways in which life experience, imagination, and personal insight shape each artist’s creative practice.
Melba’s Arthur Creative delivers inclusive, artist led workshops facilitated by practising arts professionals for emerging and established artists with disability.
This exhibition is on show at Ballarat Library from Monday 13 April to Wednesday 29 April 2026.
There will be a Meet the Maker afternoon tea launch for family and friends on Wednesday 15 April at 2pm.
Arte Ramelau and Friends
by Youth Arts Group – Timor Leste • Harmony Fest 2026
Ballarat Friends of Ainaro Community Committee proudly present Arte Ramelau from Ainaro, Timor-Leste, one of Australia’s closest neighbours.
Ballarat’s connection with Timor‑Leste’s visual arts began in 2012 with the formation of Arte Ramelau Youth Arts, supported by artists from Afalyca (Baucau), Arte Morris and Gembel (Dili). Ballarat hosted its first exhibition of Timorese artworks in 2014, with sales helping fund creative initiatives in Ainaro.
Traditional art forms such as tais weaving, painting, lino printing and wood carving continue to be shared and celebrated. Australian artists—many from Ballarat—travel to Ainaro each year, exchanging skills and drawing inspiration from the region’s landscapes and culture
The exhibition is on show until Friday 10 April at Ballarat Library.
Our Stories: Local Deaf Artists and Artisans
Presented by Deaf Victoria and Ballarat Libraries. Showing until Tuesday 10 March.
Celebrating the powerful voices and creative visions of local Deaf Artists and Artisans.
A vibrant showcase using diverse mediums as an expression of creativity, culture and community.
For more information, visit Deaf Victoria or email info@deafvictoria.org.au
