A prominent and highly experienced director, art director and curator, Sweet is renowned for inspiring and intelligent delivery of uniquely curated festivals and exhibitions. Currently, Sweet is the Festival and Creative Director at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale in Melbourne, Australia.
Fiona Sweet is an influential and highly sought after speaker, industry judge, photographic portfolio reviewer and assessor in Australia and internationally. She has held numerous esteemed positions on arts boards and panels, and regularly presents public lecturers at universities and art institutions concerning the state of contemporary photographic practice. As the director of an international photo biennale, Sweet has a committed focus to bringing extraordinary contemporary photographers to Australia.
Over its 13-year history, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale has provided a launch pad and audience for thousands of artists, from Australian emerging talents to established international photographers. Spanning 31 days and nights, the Biennale presents exciting and innovative photo-based works in exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, The Mining Exchange and other significant galleries, drawing over 26,000 people across 90 venues in Ballarat. The next biennale will take place in August-September 2019.
As a curator her interest lies in the interdisciplinary and experimental approaches to the photographic medium. Her practice often investigates the intersections between the human body, and the human psyche and its response to shifting societal perspectives, power dynamics and challenges. Sweet is responsible for the first major Australian exhibition of prominent US artist David LaChapelle at the momentous occasion of Australia legalising same-sex marriage.
Language spoken: English.
