Ballarat announces inaugural cohort for Ballarat Craft and Design Week 2026

Ballarat is set to launch a bold new chapter in its creative journey with the inaugural Ballarat Craft and Design Week, taking place 1-10 May 2026 at the historic Mining Exchange.  

Building on the success of the much-loved Craft Lab program, this new event responds to the growing needs of Ballarat’s creative ecosystem.  

The theme for 2026 is Bound, celebrating meaningful collaboration between craft and design practitioners, communities, and cultural industries with an emphasis on textile, memory, and restorative practices.

The program reflects Ballarat’s commitment as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art to foster innovation, sustainability, and cultural connection.

Following a competitive application process, a select group of collaborators will take part in a comprehensive development program, culminating in a curated exhibition and public program featuring workshops, talks, retail opportunities, and immersive experiences.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said Ballarat Craft and Design Week expands the conversation beyond individual practice to embrace collaboration and innovation.

“This initiative strengthens Ballarat’s position as a national leader in craft and design, while creating opportunities for artists and industry to connect with community in new and exciting ways,” she said.

Ballarat Craft and Design Week builds on the strong foundations of Craft Lab, a highly successful initiative that has supported the local craft sector for the past five years.  

Craft Lab focused on individual craft practitioners, guiding annual cohorts through targeted sector development and professional training before presenting their work at a public event.  

The sustained growth and impact of Craft Lab highlighted the strength and increasing complexity of Ballarat’s creative sector. As demand grew, so too did the need to reframe and expand the program, ensuring that a wider group of participants could be supported.  

This expanded format to Ballarat Craft and Design Week enables deeper collaboration, stronger industry connections, and broader participation.

For more information, visit the Creative Ballarat website.

Introducing the first collaborations for Ballarat Craft and Design Week 2026

Collaboration 1: Spencer Harrison & Nick Doran Adams 
Spencer Harrison, a multidisciplinary artist known for his vibrant explorations of geometric abstraction, joins forces with glass artist Nick Doran Adams, whose practice spans hot sculpting and kiln forming. Together, they will create works that merge Harrison’s fascination with colour and architectural form with Adams’ innovative approach to glass and reclaimed materials. 

Collaboration 2: Darren Rousch & Naomi Clayton 
Contemporary blacksmith Darren Rousch brings three decades of experience in forging large-scale public artworks to a partnership with Naomi Clayton, a decorative painter and sculptor whose practice explores the fragility of gypsum. Their collaboration will investigate the interplay of strength and delicacy through metal and mineral forms. 

Collaboration 3: Jude Ng & Dearne Mills 
Fashion designer Jude Ng, celebrated for his gender-neutral tailoring and zero-waste ethos, collaborates with designer-maker Dearne Mills of MAINICHI, whose work transforms discarded materials into exquisite jewellery. Together, they will explore sustainable design through garments and accessories that celebrate imperfection and craftsmanship. 

Collaboration 4: Minna Graham & Bernadette Aitken 
Ceramicist Minna Graham, renowned for her functional tea ware and international training, partners with printmaker and textile artist Bernadette Aitken. Their project will weave together clay and cloth, creating tactile works that evoke memory, nature, and cultural heritage. 

Collaboration 5: Kerith Holmes, Jordy Bos & Jessica Larm 
This three-way collaboration brings together Kerith Holmes’ textile-based explorations of gender and social commentary, Jordy Bos’ experimental paper structures, and Jessica Larm’s Nordic-inspired jewellery practice. Their combined approach will create a dialogue between material reuse, geometric form, and cultural storytelling. 

Collaboration 6: Tiffany Titshall & Jayne Newgreen 
Visual artist Tiffany Titshall, known for her evocative works in charcoal and ink, partners with textile artist Jayne Newgreen, whose weaving practice embraces reclaimed fibres and imperfection. Their collaboration will explore themes of memory, place, and sustainability through layered surfaces and tactile narratives.