Annual Report 2015 - Ballarat International Foto Biennale

ANNUAL REPORT
// 2015
CONTENTS
Our Vision
Our Mission
About BIFB
3
Report from the Chair
4
Report from Creative Director
5
Report from Executive Director
6
The Board
7
Thank you & Acknowledgements
9
Financial Report
10
Contact
//2
A FAITHFUL SURRENDER © ANGELA BACON-KIDWELL
OUR VISION
OUR MISSION
ABOUT BIFB
To 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.
//3
REPORT FROM
THE 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.
SILENCED © BELINDA MASON
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
//4
“As we reflect on the
2015 festival, we believe
it has been the best
presented and best
organised yet.”
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
Jeff Moorfoot
“The most enjoyable
aspect for me in my
role as Festival/Creative
director, ... is the
friendships made.”
//5
REPORT FROM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
PAST IS FUTURE PASSED BY
Back to the future!
The 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
JESS © AMBER MCCAIG
//6
“...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...”
THE BOARD
PHIL HARRINGTON
BIFB INC CHAIR & TREASURER
BOARD 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 2015
BOARD 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 management 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, community engagement and capacity building. This has
included managing compliance and contractual requirements 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.
//7
THE BOARD
FIONA BROOK
BIFB INC BOARD MEMBER SINCE
FEBRUARY 2015
AMANDA COCHRANE
BIFB INC BOARD MEMBER SINCE
FEBRUARY 2015
CAITLIN MACLEOD
BIFB INC BOARD MEMBER SINCE
FEBRUARY 2012
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, Chamber 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 organisation, Aphids and co-founder of the Acland Street
Projections Festival.
Amanda Cochran, Board member January 2015
Amanda 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.
Caitlin Macleod works for an international consulting 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 government
experience in the Australian Public Service (Canberra) 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.
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).
//8
THANK YOU &
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
BIFB INC. BOARD
THANK YOU
Philip Harrington - Chair, Treasurer
Paul ATKINS
Ammon BEYERLE
Daniel BOETKER SMITH
Sarah BRENNAN
Gerard BRENNAN
Julian BURNSIDE
Francoise CALLIER
Sandra CHEN WEINSTEIN
Daniel COBURN
Peter COCKLIN
Marie COSGRAVE
Deb COUGHLAN
Ben COX
Judith CRISPIN
Paul CULLITY
Liz CUMMINS
Jeremy DAALDER
Julia DURKIN
Peter EASTWAY
Brett EDGINGTON
Michelle EMMA JAMES
Joyce EVANS
Steven EVANS
Alasdair FOSTER
Malcolm FRASER
Peter FREUND
Manuela FURCI
Mark GAFEN
Roger GARWOOD
Rob GATTO
Michael GELLERT
Glenn GIBSON
Brian GILKES
Brian GRACEY
Peter HATZIPAVLIS
Daniel HENDERSON
Michael HENRY
Sam HENSON
Sara HINCHEY
Shelley HINTON
Hugh HUTTON
Rob IMHOFF
Kay JACKSON
Guo JING
Jennifer JONES O’NEILL
Jo KRUZE
Philip KULPA
Vanessa Brady - Director, Secretary & Public Officer
Amanda Cochran - Director
Caitlin Macleod - Director
Craig Holloway - Director
Fiona Brook - Director
Sarah Masters - Director
MANAGEMENT
Jeff Moorfoot
Steve Marshall
Pam Verwey
Creative Director/BETA editor
Executive Director
Fringe Program Coordinator
ADMINISTR ATIVE SUPPORT
Anne Nelson
Conor Fogarty
Craig Townsend
Denise Martin
Helen Watkins
Ian Kemp
Jennifer Dean
Jennifer Scuffins
Mark Avellino
Maurizio Salvati
Michael Lim
Bookkeeper
Editor
Launch Events
Travelling Exhibitions
Bookkeeper
Volunteers Coordinator
Assistant to Creative Director
Executive Assistant
Projections Coordinator
Portfolio Reviews Coordinator
1000 words editor
INTERNS
Michael Bruse
Accounting Intern
Stacey WilsonFestival Office Intern + Membership Coordinator
Zac L Petrie
Marketing Intern
SOCIAL MEDIA CREW
Gerard Domingo
Greg Masters
Michael Masters
MELBOURNE COMMITTEE
Bert Hoveling
Eric Algra
Gerard Domingo
Jennifer Dean
John Callahan
Mark Avellino
PATRONS
BALLARAT COMMITTEE
Aldona Kmiec
Carolyn Buckley
Julie Hough
Lara Russell
Pam Verwey
Scott Fredericks
Vanessa Brady
//9
Terry LANE
Rupert LAYCOCK
Toby LE VALIANT
FESTIVAL PATRON
Julian Burnside AO QC
Jessica LIM
Amy LIU
Genevieve MANLEY
Jessica MARSHALL
Erin MCCUSKEY
Julie MCLAREN
David MCMAHON
Tamela MCMAHON
Rob MCVITTY
Andrew MILLER
Gordon MORRISON
Julie MOSS
Wayne PARDEY
Senga PECKHAM
Kim PERCY
Stephen PIGGOT
Tara POOLE
Darren ROKAHR
Heidi ROMANO
Brendan SAINSBURY
Marta SANCHEZ PHILLIPE
Madeline SAY
Rod SHAW
Keith SHIPTON
David SIMMONDS
Mark SMITH
George SOSSI
Alison STIEVEN TAYLOR
Alex SYNDIKAS
Tevita TOPUI
Garry TRINH
Roger TRUDGEON
Gary UPTON
Phil VIRGO
Peter VOTERAKIS
Helen WATKINS
Jarrod WATTS
Jacinta WESTBROOK
Bruce WILLIAMS
Morgan WILLIAMS
Ben WRIGLEY
2015 PATRON CIRCLE
PLATINUM PATRONS
Alastair Firkin
Bill Bowness
Guy Vinciguerra
Helen Myall
Jeff Moorfoot
Michael Prior
Pang XiangLiang
Sara Hinchey
EMERALD PATRONS
Al Ebenreuter
John Smallman
Joyce Evans
Madeline Alford
Mike Reed
SAPPHIRE PATRONS
Carolyn Buckley
Emma Stoneman
Maggie Diaz Collection
Ollie Cool
Peter Dunphy
MEMBERSHIPS
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
FINANCIAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDING
30th JUNE 2015
//10
BALLARAT INTERNATIONAL FOTO BEIENNALE INC
A0045714L 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: [email protected]
SKYPE: ballaratfoto
WEB: www.ballaratfoto.org