This week, we are flipping the script and handing the mic to guest host Olivia French, who sits down with the incredible Tabitha Rickard to explore her creative journey and how the Ballarat Arts Foundation helped shape her path.

Tabitha is a true multi-disciplinary artis - currently focused on acting, presenting, and voice work - but her artistic path has touched so much more. From growing up in Clunes and landing a role in the iconic Ned Kelly film, to navigating family life while keeping her creative spark alive, Tabitha’s story is one of resilience and reinvention.

In this conversation, you’ll hear how a chance meeting with BAF Chair Paula Nicholson led Tabitha to the mentoring program, a successful grant application, and the ability to record professionally. Plus, she shares her advice for artists looking for support and opportunities through BAF.

So grab your headphones and join us for an inspiring chat about creativity, community, and carving your own path.

You can find Tabitha on Instagram at Tabitharickard_vo

This week, Tabitha Rickard sits down with Jessica Larm - an artist and jewellery maker with a fascinating journey. A recent Ballarat Arts Foundation alum, Jessica participated in the 2024 Mentoring Program and received a grant that same year that's helped her purchase the equipment she needs to hone her craft.

Her work draws inspiration from her Nordic heritage, and while jewellery is her craft, Jessica considers herself an artist first. After attending art school in her 30s, she explored drawing, painting, and sculpture before discovering her passion for jewellery.

In this episode, Jessica shares how the mentoring program clarified her goals, built her confidence, and connected her with a supportive community. We’ll also hear about the challenges she’s faced -  from career detours to health hurdles  - and how a single tool, a rolling mill purchased with her grant, became the foundation for her creative practice.

Stay tuned for an inspiring conversation about resilience, artistry, and finding your path a little later in life.

Follow Jessica on Instagram at jessica_larm_jewellery or at www.jessicalarm.com

In this episode, Tabitha Rickard sits down with comic book creator and game designer Shaun Sunday — also known as Brainbeast_studios.  

From Saturday morning cartoons to his very first 12-page comic, Shaun’s journey has been fueled by passion and imagination.  

Drawn by its heritage, landscape, and creative opportunities, Shaun recently made the move to Ballarat from sunny (and hot!) Queensland. Now a proud Ballarat local, Shaun shares how discovering the Ballarat Arts Foundation helped turn his childhood dream into reality — including publishing his first flip book thanks to a Creative Inspirations grant he received through BAF.  

We’ll dive into his work in tabletop game design, his efforts to support indie creators through platforms he's established like the Australia and Aotearoa Comics Creators group, and the challenges of staying healthy and financially afloat as an artist.  

Follow Shaun on Instagram @Brainbeast_studios and check out his podcast @nocapesshow for more creative insights.  

Let’s get into it!

In this vibrant episode of 25 Years 25 Artists, host Tabitha Rickard sits down with Artistic Activationist Zlatko Balazic. With a unique blend of engineering expertise and artistic passion, Zlatko transforms traditional artworks into immersive experiences - infusing them with sound, movement, and texture to make them accessible and interactive, especially for people with disabilities.

From a lineage of musicians and artists, and holding a Masters in Engineering Science, Zlatko brings a curious, experimental spirit to his creative process. He shares how letting go of perfectionism has opened up new artistic possibilities and how a chance encounter at the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute led him to connect with the Ballarat Arts Foundation.

Tune in to hear about Zlatko’s journey, his innovative approach to art, and the challenges he’s faced in funding and finding space to exhibit his work. This is one of the series’ most energetic and uplifting episodes - you won’t be able to help but smile.

Welcome to Episode 15 of 25 Years 25 Artists – the series celebrating the creative spirit of Ballarat!

This week, host Tabitha Richard sits down with the vibrant and visionary Kat Pengelly – a creator who’s turned wearable art and fashion theatre into unforgettable experiences. Kat found traditional fashion parades a bit too dull, so she reimagined them as theatrical journeys, inviting audiences to step into her “Pink Tardis of Perception” and embrace their “Inner Freak.”

A proud Ballarat local and one of the first recipients of a Ballarat Arts Foundation grant back in 2004, Kat shares how BAF has supported her artistic journey every step of the way. From mentoring others to being mentored herself, Kat reflects on the power of community, creativity, and mutual growth.

We’ll also hear about her latest project, relaunching "Fashion for Funerals"; her solo exhibition at the Ballarat Art Gallery; and the challenges of being fairly paid in the arts. Plus, Kat shines a light on the need for an electronic dance music space in Ballarat – a call to action for the city’s thriving DJ scene.

Tune in for a conversation full of passion, insight, and inspiration from an artist who’s never afraid to push boundaries and celebrate the weird and wonderful. 

website at Koshka.com.au

In this episode, Tabitha Rickard sits down with Ben Joseph Andrews, a pioneering New Media artist whose work explores immersive and interactive forms. Since 2016, Ben has been crafting multi-sensory installations that have captivated audiences both in Australia and abroad. With a background in film theory, Ben’s journey led him to the world of virtual reality, where storytelling takes a backseat to experience.

We delve into his groundbreaking project *Gondwana*, developed in Far North Queensland, and how a grant from the Ballarat Arts Foundation helped him expand his creative toolkit upon returning to Ballarat. From exploring motion misperception to uncovering a personal medical condition that deepened his interest in neuroscience, Ben’s work challenges norms and invites new ways of thinking about movement and perception.

Ben shares his passion for making cutting-edge art accessible in regional centres and highlights the vital role BAF plays in nurturing local talent. Tune in to discover how immersive art is more approachable than you might think - and how it’s transforming the Ballarat arts scene.

Follow Ben on Instagram: @benjosephandrews

Welcome to Episode 13 of 25 Years, 25 Artists. This week, Tabitha is joined by Olivia French, a performer, director, producer, and all-round creative force who’s never met an artistic challenge she didn’t want to explore.

Olivia’s love for performing sparked in high school, but it was the pandemic that rerouted her journey into the world of podcasting and deeper creative collaboration. Living in Ballarat, she became involved with BAF — a community that helped her connect with like-minded artists and launch a gothic literature-inspired project with co-creator Alexandra Meerbach. With spoken word and haunting visuals, their grant-supported vision grew into something far bigger than they imagined.

Now based on the sunny Gold Coast, Olivia continues to feed her passion for the stage while staying connected to her Ballarat roots. In this episode, Tabitha and Olivia unpack the creative pivots Covid inspired, the thrill of directing, and the ever-present shadow of imposter syndrome — a recurring theme in this series.

If you’ve ever doubted your worth or hesitated to put your ideas forward, this one’s for you. Let’s dive in.

In this episode, Tabitha chats with Felicity Liston - a registered music therapist, flautist, and passionate advocate for the healing power of sound.

Felicity’s journey began in Year 7 with a borrowed flute and a deep love for music that carried her through high school. But it was her studies in psychology that unlocked a new path - one that led her to music therapy, where she now helps others connect, heal, and grow through personalised musical experiences.

A Ballarat Arts Foundation grant in 2015 allowed Felicity to purchase her own flute, a pivotal moment that affirmed her talent and set her on the path to becoming a teacher. 

In this conversation, we explore a common theme in this series - imposter syndrome - the importance of self-efficacy, and how even a change of scenery can reignite creativity. Felicity shares insights from her work at St John of God Hospital in Ballarat, her time at the University of Melbourne, and the quiet power of listening to your own rhythm.

Let’s dive into the music, the mindset, and the moments that shaped Felicity’s journey.

In this episode, Tabitha sits down with Ballarat-based visual artist Kirrily Urquhart, whose eye for texture, colour, and pattern transforms everyday details into captivating artworks, sometimes in the most unusual of places. 

From a childhood road trip through Bathurst to projection art at White Night, Kirrily shares how her creative journey was shaped by a love of closeups and a timely BAF grant that helped launch her into the Ballarat Foto Biennale. 

Tabitha and Kirrily dive into the realities of balancing art and income, the power of mentorship, and the ongoing battle with imposter syndrome. Kirrily reflects on the importance of understanding the business side of art and the confidence that comes from being supported by a thriving local arts scene. If you've ever wondered how a coffee cup design can lead to a career in projection art - or how a grant can change everything - this one’s for you. 

Never discount the joy that art brings.

You can find Kirrily on socials under Kokoroexpressions 

Meet Ballarat’s Poetess, Megan J Riedl - a bold, neurodivergent creator whose work spans spoken word, theatre, collage, and community workshops. Megan is not only an artist, but also a single mum and proud autistic woman whose creative journey is as layered and powerful as her poetry.

Like many artists, Megan’s path was reshaped by the pandemic. But instead of retreating, she leaned in - learning that when one opportunity fades, another often rises. Her connection with the Ballarat Arts Foundation began with a grant to produce a video accompanying her poetry about violence against women. That moment wasn’t just financial support - it was artistic validation. It gave Megan the confidence to step fully into her creative identity.

From grant recipient to Executive Assistant at BAF, and later a mentee in their mentoring program, Megan began to see her art not just as expression, but as enterprise. She embraced branding, self-promotion, and the idea that a creative career isn’t just possible - it’s powerful.

With creativity running deep in her family and a fierce commitment to authenticity, Megan’s story is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the transformative power of art. Tune in as she shares her journey, her insights, and the passion that fuels her work.

https://www.meganjriedl.com/