Lantern Vaults
Opens the hidden basement of Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute
This May, the rarely seen basement vaults beneath the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute will open to
the public through Lantern Vaults, a new immersive experience by Ballarat artist Amanda Western.
Presented as part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival (21–24 May 2026), Lantern Vaults invites visitors
to step below ground and move through a sequence of historic rooms guided by shifting light, sound
and voice. Drawing on detailed research into the Institute’s past, the work brings forward stories
shaped by the building and the people connected to it.
Visitors will move through the vaulted spaces in small groups, encountering a series of scenes that
unfold quietly and gradually. The experience runs for approximately 25–30 minutes.
“This is about stepping into the building’s memory,” says Western. “You’re not just looking at
history, you’re moving through it and meeting the people who lived and worked here.”
Lantern Vaults is written and directed by Amanda Western, featuring her detailed linocut artworks
some in sculptural form, with animation and projection by Zlatko Balazic, and voice by Tabitha
Rickard.
Bookings are free but essential due to limited capacity.
Tickets can be booked below.
21–24 May 2026
Sessions run throughout each day
Duration: approximately 25–30 minutes
Access via stairs only.
Special Preview
A special paid preview will be held on Tuesday 19 May at 7.30pm, offering audiences the
opportunity to experience the work ahead of the public opening and take part in a conversation with
the three artists.
This production is supported by the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and the City of Ballarat.
Media enquiries:
Amanda Western
amanda@amandawestern.com.au
0437 800 886
