Craft Lab is back again for 2025, with a brand-new cohort of local practitioners just announced.
This will be the fifth year Craft Lab has been held within the Ballarat Heritage Festival program in May, showcasing the artisanal work of Ballarat practitioners. This free event is a cornerstone of the festival.
Craft Lab has steadily grown in popularity with more than 6,000 visitors through the doors over four days in 2024. These visitors take part in experiences, learn the secrets of craft practice and join in numerous events and activities.
In 2025, 18 practitioners have been selected to share their knowledge, expertise and techniques with thousands of members of the public over two weekends.
The selected group feature a wide range of artisans from textiles, ceramics, sculptors, furniture and even millinery. All are paid for their time to participate in sector development programs and then to share their skills with the wider community.
Anzara Clark, a Ballarat based multidisciplinary artist and designer working with paper was one of those selected for Craft Lab 2025.
Ms Clark said she loved combining traditional craft with experimental approaches, to explore and stretch the limits.
"I cannot wait to show the Ballarat community, and visitors how we can manipulate papers, fibres and textiles to create fashion," she said.
"I'm looking forward to showcasing at Craft Lab this year, the transformation of paper into cloth and into wearable garments."
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said Ballarat is a wonderfully creative city, and it is no wonder that 18 practitioners were able to be selected for Craft Lab.
"Craft Lab is an awesome opportunity to highlight the talents of Ballarat creatives to the rest of the community, we are privileged to be able to see so many traditional and emerging skills and arts produced right here in our city," she said.
Candidates are selected through an Expression of Interest process, to participate in the program to hone their knowledge and practice and promote their selected craft.
The City of Ballarat works in conjunction with the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades and Craft Victoria to be a launch pad for practitioners.
The artists participate in professional development days, receive mentoring, networking opportunities, professional photography and general support in the lead up to Craft Lab in mid-May 2025.
Craft Lab is held at the historic Mining Exchange and is on from 10am to 5pm on the weekends of 17 and 18 May 2025, and 26 and 27 May. The event is free to enter.
