2026 Community Hub: Exhibition and Presentations Application

Overview

The City of Ballarat invites community groups, local organisations or businesses, and not-for-profit organisations to participate in the Community Hub Exhibition as part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival.
The Community Hub will provide a welcoming, central space within the festival where groups can:

• Promote their organisation, projects, and heritage related activities, and
• Engage visitors through short presentations or demonstrations during the festival period.

This initiative offers an opportunity for groups to share their stories, celebrate community connections, and highlight activities that may be running outside of the festival footprint

Venue

The proposed venue for the Community Hub is the Trench Room, Ballarat Town Hall.
Please note: venue is subject to change, depending on the number of exhibitors and space requirements.

What’s provided

The City of Ballarat will cover the cost of a basic exhibition set-up, which includes*:

• 1-2 pin boards for posters, displays, or visual content
• 1 trestle table and 2 chairs

Participating groups will have the option to deliver a 45-minute presentation, demonstration, or talk, coordinated as part of the Community Hub. () Display and furniture included is subject to change.

Eligibility

To be considered for participation, groups should:

• Be a Ballarat-based or regionally connected community group, society, club or not-for-profit organisation.
• Offer a display or presentation that related to Ballarat’s history, people, culture, or community story.
• Be available to staff their displays during agreed festival opening hours.
• Supply all printed materials, props and visual content for their displays.

Participation in the Community Hub is free of charge.

Support and promotion

Participating groups will:

• Have their group name displayed on the Ballarat Heritage Festival website.
• Be included in the Community Hub presentation schedule, promoted as part of the wider festival.
• Receive basic logistical and coordination support from the Community Engagement Coordinator.

Next steps

• Submit your application via the online application form by 04 January 2026.
• Submissions will be reviewed by the City of Ballarat Events Team (see below)
• Selected participants will be contacted to confirm their exhibition space (note – presentation times will be allocated closer to the festival).
• The Community Engagement Coordinator will provide ongoing support leading up to and during the festival to ensure a coordinated and engaging Community Hub Experience.

Selection Criteria

The following criteria will guide the assessment of Community Hub applications to ensure each proposed display and presentation aligns with the purpose of the Hub and offers value to festival audiences.

Connection to Ballarat’s Heritage or Community

• Display and presentation relates to local stories, research, people, places, or themes.
• Demonstrates a clear purpose for participating in the Community Hub

Contribution to the Community Hub Environment

• Adds diversity, interest, or balance
• Supports community connections, learning or storytelling.

For further enquiries regarding this process, you are invited to contact:
City of Ballarat–Events Unit
P: 5320 5500
E: events@ballarat.vic.gov.au