The Art Gallery of Ballarat's presentation of the internationally renowned World Press Photo exhibition has concluded after attracting 7,600 visitors to the Ballarat Mining Exchange over just six weeks.
It was the first time the globally significant photojournalism exhibition had been shown in Ballarat and the first time it had been in Victoria for more than a decade.
Presented by the Art Gallery of Ballarat from 8 August to 20 September while its historic gallery building undergoes essential works, World Press Photo featured award-winning photographs selected from more than 57,000 entries submitted by photographers from 141 countries.
Visitors engaged with powerful stories exploring global issues including conflict, climate change, human rights, resilience and community, demonstrating the important role arts and culture play in fostering understanding and conversation.
City of Ballarat Acting Mayor, Cr Ben Taylor said the exhibition had exceeded expectations and reinforced Ballarat's reputation as a destination for major cultural experiences.
"Welcoming more than seven thousand visitors to the World Press Photo exhibition is a fantastic result and demonstrates the strong appetite for high-quality arts and cultural experiences in Ballarat," he said.
"This exhibition brought local residents and visitors together to engage with powerful stories from around the world, while reinforcing Ballarat's reputation as a city that embraces meaningful cultural experiences and major exhibitions."
Art Gallery of Ballarat Director, Louise Tegart said the response from residents and visitors had been overwhelmingly positive.
"Visitors were engaged and stimulated by the worldclass photography on display," she said.
"We provided several ways for visitors to delve deeper into the exhibition content including curatorial tours, guided experiences by volunteer guides and the Scribe program."
Scribe enabled visitors to share their thoughts and reflections on the photography they'd seen. Some quotes were then shared in chalk in public spaces around Ballarat to further promote the exhibition.
More than 300 people engaged with daily tours conducted by the Art Gallery of Ballarat's volunteer guides.
The success of World Press Photo highlights Ballarat's growing reputation as a regional centre for major arts and cultural experiences and demonstrates the community's enthusiasm for internationally significant exhibitions.
