David Quirk – Astonishing Obscurity

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

Melbourne International Comedy Festival proudly presents: David Quirk - Astonishing Obscurity Nominee: 2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show  A truth. A lie. A vendetta. Obsession. Stalking. Inbreeding. Art. My brilliant football brother. My Christmas Island sister and an actual Prince lip sync dance thing that sent my career careering. DQ neva […]

$25 – $30

Joe Avati | 25 Live – Have Some Respect Tour

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

The comedian touted as Australia’s answer to Seinfeld is back with a brand new show for 2022 – and with most of us needing a good laugh after the events of the last two years, his tour will be just the ticket. After surviving the world’s longest lockdown in Melbourne, Joe is bursting with new […]

$49.50

LaNCE TV – Live in Concert with Motor City Sounds

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

We are excited to bring you a much anticipated live event. Join us in the beautiful Minerva Space at the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute, for a night of pure entertainment and cheesy disco classics with Ballarat's most notorious television duo Lance DeBoyle and Gabriella Labucci. This event will be broadcast live to community television station C31 […]

$40 – $50

Toying With The Classics – Ballarat Symphony Orchestra

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

The Ballarat Symphony presents classical music with a twist. A Toy Symphony with real toys. Beethoven letting the cat out of the bag. Mozart outdoing P.D.Q. Bach. And Haydn being more surprising than the Surprise Symphony. Music by famous composers…with something funny happening! Conductor: Hugh McKelvey Program: - Beethoven: Symphony No.1 - Leopold Mozart: Toy Symphony […]

$10 – $30

Fanny Lumsden’s Deep in the Fallow Tour

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

Fanny Lumsden and her band The Pack are bringing fallow out on its last hurrah. After its wobbly start in 2020, to its incredible list of accolades including the ARIA for Best Country Album; five-time CMAA Golden Guitars including Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year; AIR Country Album of the Year; […]

$30

‘Mine-Field’ Documentary Screening + QnA

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

This engaging, highly informative film is a must-see for communities like Ballarat and Moorabool who are keen to understand the environmental and lifestyle implications of Victoria’s 21st-century mining boom. Filmed over three years, 'Mine-Field' (2022) shows how a farming community in East Gippsland fought a ruthless mining company and won. It reveals the devastating impact […]

$12

Eric Bogle Live

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

Eric Bogle is an internationally known and respected songwriter. For nearly 40 years he has toured the world with his music, inflicting his songs on innocent bystanders from outback Australia to the streets of New York and many places in between. During those 40 years he has embarked on eight tours of North America, 11 […]

$69

Kings of the Blues

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

Starring Dave Hole, Shane Pacey and Geoff Achison. BB, FREDDIE and ALBERT represent the pinnacle of blues guitar virtuosity.   They used a minimum to create the maximum blues effect, and together they set the standard to which all others aspire. And the KINGS were superb vocalists, ripping into the very soul of the blues. Such […]

$79

Event Series Ballarat Film Society 2023

Ballarat Film Society – La Strada

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

Italy, 1954, b/w, 94 min.  Directed by Federico Fellini Fellini Classic Neo-Realism ​Starring Giulietta Masina, Anthony Quinn and Richard Basehart, and produced by Dino De Laurentiis and Carlo Ponti, La Strada was Fellini’s 4th film and ensured his international reputation. Told in a fabulist style with a focus on love and jealousies, it is set […]

Class Clowns | Ballarat Heat

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

Class Clowns aims to inspire, engage and elevate teens aged 14-18 who are hoping to flex their funny bone and get into comedy. All you need is 3-5 minutes of original comedy material of any genre. Stand-up, sketch, narrative, solo, group, musical, physical – all are welcomed. Heats are held around the country and comprise a […]

Event Series Ballarat Film Society 2023

Ballarat Film Society – Brooklyn

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

Ireland/UK/Canada, 2015, 112 min. Directed by John Crowley Nostalgic Irish Émigré Romance ​ Receiving a standing ovation at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and faithfully adapted from the novel by Colm Toibin, Brooklyn tells the story of Eilis (Saoirse Ronan), a young woman from Enniscorthy, County Wexford who finds herself in the new world of […]

Feeling Out Loud: Writing Poetry

Heritage Reading Room Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

A relaxed session of writing poetry as personal catharsis. Let your feelings flow onto the page with a series of writing prompts and the gift of time to write, with the option to share your poetic works out loud in a safe, facilitated space. Confirmation This FREE event is being run by Ballarat Libraries Get […]

Devonshire Tea & Fashion Parade

Bubbly on arrival & Featuring quality items from our Vintage Shop | $60

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2025 Calendar

Featuring the BMI Image Collection | $40

Tax Deductible 

Your gift will be tax-deductible this financial year if you make it before June 30.

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2024 End of Financial Year Appeal 

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Our Challenge

Like many organisations the BMI faces significant funding challenges. 

We thank you for your support.

BMI Fundraiser

Featuring:
The Hideaways,
The Harmonies &
Surf Shadows. 

2 course dinner & lots
of dancing