Fuelling Ballarat’s creative economic powerhouse

Ballarat’s flagship creative sector development program is returning in 2025, showcasing the work of the some of the region’s talented makers, artisans and artists who are fuelling the transformation of the Ballarat creative sector into a powerful economic engine.  

Now entering its fifth year, Craft Lab identifies 18 talented creatives who work with traditional skills while developing contemporary applications of their craft. The practitioners receive intensive career advice, portfolio reviews, professional photography, and brokerage support.  

These artisans then showcase their work at the historic Mining Exchange during the award-winning Ballarat Heritage Festival. 

Craft Lab is a major driver of cultural tourism to Ballarat, with attendance growing each year including more than 6,000 visitors over four days in 2024. 

Supported by the city’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Arts, Ballarat is transforming its creative sector into a powerful economic engine that contributed $658.4 million to the local economy in 2022/23.  

Cultural tourism spending, like that generated by Craft Lab, has surged, with domestic overnight visitors spending $140 million on arts, heritage, and cultural activities in 2023/24 – a remarkable 52 per cent increase from $92 million in 2021/22. Cultural tourism visitor nights have increased 1.5 times from 380,000 to 559,000, demonstrating the significant economic impact of the cultural industries on the region.   

These increases have, in part, been driven by increases in the numbers of creative practitioners within the City of Ballarat, which have increased 2.5-fold since 2018. This places the municipality halfway toward the City of Ballarat’s ambitious goal of quintupling its creative workforce by 2030.  

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the remarkable growth in Ballarat’s arts and cultural industries demonstrated how cultural heritage could drive economic prosperity. 

"With more than 2,500 people now employed in creative sectors across our region, we're witnessing firsthand how investing in our unique cultural identity generates both economic opportunities and strengthens community wellbeing,” Cr Hargreaves said.  

“Our UNESCO designation has enabled us to showcase Ballarat's creativity on a global stage while supporting local practitioners to develop sustainable careers right here in regional Victoria.  

“Craft Lab is a great example of the work being done to cultivate Ballarat’s creative community and transform our city’s creative city into an economic powerhouse.”  

Commerce Ballarat CEO Jodie Gillet said the economic ripple effects from Ballarat's arts and cultural industries had been substantial for our broader business community.  

“We're seeing increased foot traffic, longer visitor stays, and stronger spending patterns across retail, hospitality, and accommodation sectors,” she said.  

“The UNESCO designation has effectively diversified our economic base — building community resilience.” 

Craft Lab will take place at the Ballarat Mining Exchange from 17-25 May, 10am to 5pm, as part of the annual Ballarat Heritage Festival.  

Visit the Creative City website for more information about Craft Lab.