ANNUAL REPORT // 2015

//2

CONTENTS

Our Vision

Our Mission

About BIFB

Report from the Chair

Report from Creative Director

Report from Executive Director

The Board

Thank you & Acknowledgements

Financial Report

Contact

3

4

5

6

7

9

10

//3

OUR VISION OUR MISSION ABOUT BIFBTo educate, inspire and question by presenting photography from around the world to Australia and from Australia to the world.

To promote photography in all its forms both through staging of a biennale festival in Ballarat along with a range of other initiatives which profile photography to the braodcast possible audience.

The Balarat International Foto Biennale Inc. is a not-for-profit incorporated association, run p rimarily by a group of volunteers, with a collective enthusiasm and visions regarding the future direction of Australian photography and photographers, and the place they take on the world stage.

A FAITHFUL SURRENDER © ANGELA BACON-KIDWELL

//4

REPORT FROMTHE CHAIR

The annual report is generally a formality, an accounting to members as to our financial results and position up to the 30th of June 2015. Those accounts, notes and the audit report are enclosed.

Our financial year runs from July to June. We finished the year with a healthy surplus ($88,367) and a sound position (net assets of $162,039) and we project we will end the calendar year with a surplus of approximately $110,000. This is the best position we have been in at this point in the 2 year cycle, that is, post festival, in the history of BIFB.

Whilst finances are vitally important we face some great challenges. Most members would now be aware that our Creative Director and founder, Jeff Moorfoot, has resigned. Jeff has given more than 12 years of magnificent service to BIFB. He has worked tirelessly through that time putting in thousands of hours of expertise, enthusiasm and energy. His financial rewards have been modest. On behalf of the Board and all the members of the BIFB I wish to acknowledge Jeff’s efforts in putting the organisation on the map and being the focus of BIFB. Also, most of us know that Jeff’s talents are not confined to the area of photography but encompasses all the practical things necessary to putting on a festival, for example manufacturing and erecting display stands, electrics etc. Thank you Jeff.

Jeff has agreed to continue as editor of the on-line publications BETA and 1000 words and perhaps maintain our links with International affiliates via the Asia Pacific Photoforum and the Festival of Light.

The void that will result with Jeff’s imminent departure has caused the Board to review the whole strategy and future of the BIFB. Whilst we are in a good financial position now we will not be able to fund a Creative Director at a normal market salary level. We realise that we will need to do things differently to both inspire increases in attendances and promote a continuation and improvement in financial support to ensure long term sustainability. We are working on those plans and will inform members of outcomes in due course.

As we reflect on the 2015 festival, we believe it has been the best presented and best organised yet. We had record fringe entries and strong participation in all events. With the great many photographs displayed and events conducted and which is only made possible with a mammoth collective effort by a large number of people. The executive Jeff Moorfoot and Steve Marshall, Pam Verway, our fringe coordinator, and the many, many volunteers we very much appreciate the sustained efforts of all.

On behalf of the Board I would also like to thank Caitlin Macleod who is stepping down from the Board after 4 years. Caitlin has given wise counsel and contributed much to the Board during that time.

We are at the cross roads, on the verge of a new era for BIFB. I urge all members to take an interest, put forward ideas, volunteer, become a Patron Circle member, do something to assist the progress of BIFB into the future.

Phil Harrington

“As we reflect on the 2015 festival, we believe

it has been the best presented and best

organised yet.”

SILENCED © BELINDA MASON

//5

REPORT FROM THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Message from the Creative Director

October 2015

After twelve long years at the helm, I have decided to step down as captain of the good ship BIFB. It is a decision I have thought long and hard about on and off for the past eighteen months. It is a decision I have not taken lightly, but ultimately I feel, in my 70th year, I no longer have the necessary enthusiasm nor stamina to take the event forward to the next biennale in 2017.

The festival grew out of an idea back in 2003. I had just finished building my house on the edge of the Wombat State Forest. I had felt disenfranchised from my then job as a sessional lecturer of photography at RMIT, with the feeling that the job had become one of an administrator, and was no longer that of a teacher.

I had burned my bridges as a commercial photographer and was about to do likewise as an educator, and was seeking new challenges to satisfy my sense of adventure.

From a spark of an idea the Daylesford Foto Biennale was born in 2005. It was a festival born out of a passion for photography and unbridled enthusiasm and not much else. It was a real struggle to find the wherewithal to run the festival back in 2005, and, a decade on, nothing much has changed on that score. After six iterations of the festival we still struggle to find the resources to run and maintain the standards commensurate with the reputation the event has achieved with artists, audiences and critics both at home and abroad.

The festival has grown in stature and importance in all measurable metrics over this period, yet it still struggles to attract the support needed to make it truly sustainable. So it is now time for me to step down and allow someone else with vision, a great deal more energy and enthusiasm, and who is more at ease with the administrative and corporate environment than I to lead the organisation into the future.

Of the many achievements from my tenure as Festival Director I am proud of the fact that the festival maintained an egalitarian structure that enabled a first time exhibitor to have their work appear on the same stage as some of the biggest names in photography from Australia and around the world. We are one of the few festivals around the world that pays our main program artists a fee for exhibiting. That fee has always been standard and not variable depending on the reputation of the artist. Of the many international festivals I have attended, without doubt Ballarat is the easiest festival for the visitor to navigate their way around the host of exhibitions on offer. On the international stage we led the formation of the Asia Pacific Photoforum, which now boasts 13 festival members from the Asia Pacific area, and we still remain the only Oceania member of the Festival of Light which boasts more than 25 festival members worldwide. We have followed the principles of presenting a main exhibition program that pays reference to all genres of photography, always showing previously un exhibited works to Australian audiences, and maintaining an equal mix of Australian and International artists. Our educational and support offerings to supplement the exhibition programs have always been of the highest quality.

The most enjoyable aspect for me in my role as Festival/Creative director, beyond the sense of achievement and relief at the close of each and every festival, is the friendships made. My sincere thanks go to all of the photographers, supporters, staff, volunteers, board members and audience, many of whom remain firm friends today. I thank you for your support and your friendship.

As for the future of the BIFB? Time holds the answer to that. I will still maintain my links with the festival as editor of our online magazine BETA developments in photography, and if my successors so wish, continue to represent the BIFB in International forums and continue to represent Australian photography on the world stage. I truly hope the festival will go on to bigger and better things and hopefully achieve some of the high ideals I have pushed for since our earliest days. That said, whoever steps into my shoes needs to have the room to put their own stamp on the direction the festival may take. May I wish the new captain, with the support of the Board and staff, that you point your bow into the wind and make good headway through seas both stormy and calm.

Cheers

“The most enjoyable aspect for me in my

role as Festival/Creative director, ... is the

friendships made.”

Jeff Moorfoot

//6

REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PAST IS FUTURE PASSED BYThe Board of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale need to determine what BIFB is setting out to do and why, and how the Board and management will decide how to achieve this in light of the iminent departure of founder and Creative Director, Jeff Moorfoot. More on that, later.

In the age of ‘access-all-areas’ the festival has continued to punch well above its weight. This year alone the festival grew in size and stature with both colossal growth in photographer’s interest in the Fringe Program (a record 121 exhibitions) and a growing chorus of organisations requesting an audience to commence negotiations for future involvement with the main program.

But nothing is as astounding as the amount that the festival gives back to the community and the photographers. Thorough our surveys we came to understand that venues and business in Ballarat saw a significant increase in foot traffic and trade.

For our artists it was a very different relationship. Jane Long sold almost all of her beautiful photographs off the wall of the Art Gallery of Ballarat. Many other photographers sold their work, too. There was a lot of activity in the Fringe Program, too. Other well-known and unknown photographers also recorded print sales. And while all of this was taking place a few Fringe photographers were identified by gallery agents as so incredibly great at their craft that they would be initiating negotiations to represent them around the world, at trade and art fairs.

Further news on this front, we gave back almost $50,000 to our photographers, through art & book sales and workshops revenue. In accordance with Moorfoot’s vision, the festival did achieve its core initiative: to elevate photographers. That is at the heart of Jeff Moorfoot’s legacy.

Back to the future!The departure of Jeff Moorfoot from the festival sets up a critical juncture for the Ballarat International Foto Biennale on its path into the future. Many people will pause and reflect on the great number of photographs he has personally selected to display both in Daylesford and here in Ballarat. Time marches on and now we arrive at the crossroads.

The BIFB Board will set the future direction with a clear understanding of what has gone before and what needs to be done on the road ahead. In time everyone will know the decision and the direction of this great festival of photography.

Much has been said about photography and recently one of the world’s great photographers, JOSEF KOUDELKA, uttered these insightful words, “Photography is big, there is room for everyone”.

Steve Marshall

“...festival grew in size and stature with both

colossal growth in photographer’s interest in the Fringe Program...

and a growing chorus of organisations ...for

future involvement...” JESS © AMBER MCCAIG

//7

THE BOARDPHIL HARRINGTON

BIFB INC CHAIR & TREASURERBOARD MEMBER SINCE 2009

Phillip Harrington is a Chartered Accountant, a partner of Manning & Perry, Chartered Accountants in Melbourne for more than 30 years. Presently he is an adviser to clients, a consultant in matters of accounting and taxation and acts as trustee of a number of private and charitable trusts.

Phil has long experience in all facets of professional accounting – previously a Registered Company Auditor, Tax Agent, Investment Adviser and Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors in Australia. Phil has a long-standing interest in farming and a keen interestin photography as an amateur in both film and digital forms. Phillip was appointed to the BIFB Board in 2009.

CRAIG HOLLOWAY

BIFB INC SECRETARY & PUBLIC OFFICER to JAN 2015BOARD MEMBER SINCE 2011

Craig Holloway currently operates his photography business ARTfocus in Ballarat. He established his business after returning to his hometown of Ballarat in 2007 from New Zealand, where he jointly owned a photography gallery, consulted in tourism and was proprietor of a luxury lodge in the Bay of Islands. Craig has been a committee member of the Ballarat Tourist Association and was Chair of the BTA for three years up until Nov 2011, also serving on the board of Ballarat Regional Tourism in 2011. He is also a current member of VECCI Regional Business Council. A Ballarat Committee Member of the BIFB since 2009, Craig was appointed to the BIFB Board in November 2011.

VANESSA BRADY

BIFB INC SECRETARY & PUBLIC OFFICER from JAN 2015

BOARD MEMBER SINCE JANUARY 2015

Vanessa Brady has an extensive background in business, marketing, promotions and event man-agement predominantly in the arts, entertainment and education industries. She has demonstrated experience in strategic planning, community and industry partnerships, media liaison, sponsorship, education and training, project management, com-munity engagement and capacity building. This has included managing compliance and contractual re-quirements for government funded programs. She is also passionate about the arts and has practiced photography since childhood, contributed photos to publications and exhibited sporadically.

She is currently working at Federation University, Australia managing the contractual relationships between the University and 28 partner institutions, to ensure that the relationships are productive and reflect positively on the University and the partners.

She has a Masters in Business Administration and is currently completing further post graduate studies. She has been involved in the Foto Biennale since 2013 as a volunteer, committee member and board member since January 2015.

//8

THE BOARDFIONA BROOK

BIFB INC BOARD MEMBER SINCE FEBRUARY 2015

Fiona Brook is experienced communications and public relations practitioner with an extensive network in local and international media. She has a substantial track record of success in arts and entertainment, events, design, and hospitality sectors. Fiona launched her own production and publicity company, Zilla & Brook, in Marc h 2011. Current clients include Melbourne Fringe Festival, Nite Art, City of Boroondara Arts & Culture, Cham-ber Made Opera, Aphids, Acland Street Projections Festival as well as numerous visual and performing arts events in Melbourne.Since 2004 Fiona has been involved in the Ballarat Foto Biennale. Fiona has been twice appointed a board member, committee member and publicist since the festival’s inception. Fiona is also a board member of contemporary performance art organi-sation, Aphids and co-founder of the Acland Street Projections Festival.

AMANDA COCHRANE

BIFB INC BOARD MEMBER SINCE FEBRUARY 2015

Amanda Cochran, Board member January 2015Amanda Cochran has a background in project management, specialising in delivering business change programmes to corporate clients primarily in the financial services and infrastructure sectors. Amanda’s experience ranges from ensuring corporate compliance, designing and implementing operating models, through to executing large scale consumer research study.Amanda’s interest in the arts stems from childhood. She is an amateur practitioner in print making, experiments with various mediums in her home studio and is a supporter and advocate of the visual arts.Amanda holds a Bachelor of Engineering, and has been a Ballarat International Foto Biennale Board Member since January 2015.

SARAH MASTERS

BIFB INC BOARD MEMBER SINCE APRIL 2015

Sarah Masters has been involved in small arts initiatives for over ten years. She was operations manager of the Wheeler Centre for 3 yrs before taking up position as General Manager at Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka (M.A.D.E).

CAITLIN MACLEOD

BIFB INC BOARD MEMBER SINCE FEBRUARY 2012

Caitlin Macleod works for an international consult-ing firm and advises banking and financial services clients on a range of regulatory and public policy issues.She spent four years at the UK Financial Services Authority during the banking crisis and, prior to this, was a Budget Adviser to the Solomon Islands Government. Caitlin has extensive governmentexperience in the Australian Public Service (Can-berra) and has worked on a wide range of public policy issues including in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Finance and Administration.A qualified lawyer, Caitlin also holds a BA(Hons) from the University of Melbourne and a MSc from the London School of Economics. She has recently returned to Australia and has an enduring love of photography and a keen interest in regional Australia. Caitlin was appointed to the BIFB Board in February 2012.

//9

THANK YOU & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS BIFB INC . BOA R D

Philip Harrington - Chair, Treasurer

Vanessa Brady - Director, Secretary & Public Officer

Amanda Cochran - Director

Caitlin Macleod - Director

Craig Holloway - Director

Fiona Brook - Director

Sarah Masters - Director

M A N AGEMEN T

Jeff Moorfoot Creative Director/BETA editorSteve Marshall Executive DirectorPam Verwey Fringe Program Coordinator

A DMINIS T R ATIV E S UPP OR T

Anne Nelson BookkeeperConor Fogarty EditorCraig Townsend Launch EventsDenise Martin Travelling ExhibitionsHelen Watkins BookkeeperIan Kemp Volunteers CoordinatorJennifer Dean Assistant to Creative DirectorJennifer Scuffins Executive Assistant Mark Avellino Projections CoordinatorMaurizio Salvati Portfolio Reviews CoordinatorMichael Lim 1000 words editor

INTERNSMichael Bruse Accounting InternStacey Wilson Festival Office Intern + Membership CoordinatorZac L Petrie Marketing Intern

SOCIAL MEDIA CREWGerard DomingoGreg MastersMichael Masters

MELBOURNE COMMITTEEBert HovelingEric AlgraGerard DomingoJennifer DeanJohn CallahanMark Avellino

BALLARAT COMMITTEEAldona KmiecCarolyn BuckleyJulie HoughLara RussellPam VerweyScott FredericksVanessa Brady

PAT RONS

FESTIVAL PATRONJulian Burnside AO QC

2015 PAT RON CIRCLE

PLATINUM PATRONSAlastair FirkinBill BownessGuy VinciguerraHelen MyallJeff MoorfootMichael PriorPang XiangLiangSara Hinchey

EMERALD PATRONSAl EbenreuterJohn SmallmanJoyce EvansMadeline AlfordMike Reed

SAPPHIRE PATRONSCarolyn BuckleyEmma StonemanMaggie Diaz CollectionOllie CoolPeter Dunphy

MEMBER SHIP S

MEMBER FESTIVAL DE LA LUZ / FESTIVAL OF LIGHT www.festivaloflight.net

MEMBER ASIA PACIFIC PHOTOFORUM www.asiapacificphotoforum.org

MEMBER COMMERCE BALLARAT www.commerceballarat.com.au

AFFILIATE COMPANION CARD www.companioncard.org.au

Paul ATKINSAmmon BEYERLEDaniel BOETKER SMITHSarah BRENNANGerard BRENNANJulian BURNSIDEFrancoise CALLIERSandra CHEN WEINSTEINDaniel COBURNPeter COCKLINMarie COSGRAVEDeb COUGHLANBen COXJudith CRISPINPaul CULLITYLiz CUMMINSJeremy DAALDERJulia DURKINPeter EASTWAYBrett EDGINGTONMichelle EMMA JAMESJoyce EVANSSteven EVANSAlasdair FOSTERMalcolm FRASERPeter FREUNDManuela FURCIMark GAFENRoger GARWOODRob GATTOMichael GELLERTGlenn GIBSONBrian GILKESBrian GRACEYPeter HATZIPAVLISDaniel HENDERSONMichael HENRYSam HENSONSara HINCHEYShelley HINTONHugh HUTTONRob IMHOFFKay JACKSONGuo JINGJennifer JONES O’NEILLJo KRUZEPhilip KULPA

Terry LANERupert LAYCOCKToby LE VALIANT

Jessica LIMAmy LIUGenevieve MANLEYJessica MARSHALLErin MCCUSKEYJulie MCLARENDavid MCMAHONTamela MCMAHONRob MCVITTYAndrew MILLERGordon MORRISONJulie MOSSWayne PARDEYSenga PECKHAMKim PERCYStephen PIGGOTTara POOLEDarren ROKAHRHeidi ROMANOBrendan SAINSBURYMarta SANCHEZ PHILLIPEMadeline SAYRod SHAWKeith SHIPTONDavid SIMMONDSMark SMITHGeorge SOSSIAlison STIEVEN TAYLORAlex SYNDIKASTevita TOPUIGarry TRINHRoger TRUDGEONGary UPTONPhil VIRGOPeter VOTERAKISHelen WATKINSJarrod WATTSJacinta WESTBROOKBruce WILLIAMSMorgan WILLIAMSBen WRIGLEY

T H A NK YOU

//10

FINANCIAL REPORTFOR THE YEAR ENDING 30th JUNE 2015

BALLARAT INTERNATIONAL FOTO BEIENNALE INCA0045714L ABN 70496228247

OFFICE: Upstairs at the Mining Exchange 12 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat

POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 41 Ballarat, Victoria 3353 Australia

TELEPHONE: + 61 3 5331 4833

EMAIL: info@ballaratfoto.org

SKYPE: ballaratfoto

WEB: www.ballaratfoto.org