Community

Events & Workshops

Home

Learning Program Index

Meet the Instructors

Search

Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades acknowledges the Wadawurrung people as the Traditional custodians of the land on which we operate. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and to all of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who live and work on Wadawurrung Country. We acknowledge their unceded sovereignty over Wadawurrung Country, and the ongoing hardship and trauma as a result of colonisation. The history and continuous culture of the Wadawurrung people is an important part of our shared story.

Australian Flags

We’re open during workshop hours to participants only.

Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to receive the latest news.

Rare Trades Centre05 11 22 23

Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to receive latest news.

Email Address

Your Name

Postcode

Phone (optional)

Which workshops are you interested in?

This May, the Rare Trades Centre again joins the City of Ballarat Creative Cities initiative and Craft Victoria in celebrating our shared commitment to sustaining and promoting the exemplary craft practices of local and regional artisans.During Craft Lab 25 (17 – 25 May), the Rare Trades Centre is featuring hands-on artisan workshops – as well as PECHA KUCHA 06: INTANGIBLE, an evening of inspiration by thinkers and creatives for thinkers and creatives.Book early and book often to play your part in these exciting experiences:

CL25 logo stacked black

City of Ballarat Logo Black

Craftvictoria logo

RT Black RT Full Logo Landscape CMYK

Logo creative cities Member blue eng

ACGC Primary Logo Black

Colour Rainbow Craft Lab 25

The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades - 383 – 389 Bradshaw Street, Ballarat VIC 3350

Natural Dye - Colour Rainbow

Learn to create a world of colour using natural dyes with Churchill Fellow, Heather Thomas! 
 
In this 2-day workshop, you will create a rainbow pallet using three traditional plant dyes: indigo, madder and wold. 
 
You will layer shades of colour at different strengths on cotton handkerchiefs to create 25 colours. 
 
At the end of the workshop, you will be able to take your dyed handkerchiefs home with you.

Cuffs Craft Lab 25

Norse Inspired Brass & Copper Cuffs

Learn the basics of metalwork and decorative design with armourer, designer, leatherworker and metalsmith, Sam Bloomfield. 
 
In this half-day workshop, you will work with copper and brass to make and decorate your own cuff. 
 
At the end of the workshop, you will take your finished piece home with you.

Amulets Craft Lab 25

Norse Inspired Amulets & Adornment

Learn the basics of metalwork and decorative design with armourer, designer, leatherworker and metalsmith, Sam Bloomfield. 
 
In this half-day workshop, you will work with copper and brass to make and decorate your amulet. 
 
At the end of the workshop, you will take your finished piece home with you.

Locksmithing Craft Lab 25

Locksmithing - Jacksons Padlock

Learn the ancient art of locksmithing with locksmith Aaron Smith. 
 
In this full-day workshop, you will make your own brass padlock and cut your own key using traditional techniques and hand tools that have not changed 
since the early 1800s. 
 
This workshop will teach you skills that are slowly becoming lost in the locksmithing trade with the ever-increasing use of technology. You will use parts 
made by Australia’s oldest operating lock manufacturer, Jacksons of Launceston and mark out, hand drill and file a working lock. Once the components 
are ready, you will hand-cut a key to suit. 
 
At the end of the day, you will take your lock and key home with you.

Lace Craft Lab 25

The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades - 383 – 389 Bradshaw Street, Ballarat VIC 3362

Lacemaking – Bobbin Lace and Needle Lace

Learn the art of lacemaking with Lindy de Wijn and Helen Crabb from the Victorian Branch of the Australian Lace Guild.

Waleert Waleert Craft Lab 25

Wadawurrung woman Shannen Mennen hosts a special session on the rich cultural history of Ballarat.

383 – 389 Bradshaw Street, Ballarat VIC 3350

Waleert-Waleert: Exploring the Threads of Ballarat

Woodcarving 101 Craft Lab 25

Woodcarving 101 - The Fundamentals

Learn everything you need to know to get started woodcarving with Olivia O'Connor! 
 
This full-day workshop is an absolute must for anyone wanting to expand their woodcarving skills and knowledge. 
 
We will cover timber selection, tool selection, the different carving cuts, how to secure your work for carving, tool sharpening basics, and grain 
direction. 
 
You will leave with a project that encompasses all that you have learnt throughout the day.

Wood Carving 101 Craft Lab 2025

Carving In The Round - 3D Animal Carving

Spend a day carving in the round with woodworker, Olivia O'Connor. 
 
This a day-long class where you will hand carve your own 3-dimensional wooden animal, full of character and charm from a choice of designs. 
 
At the end of the workshop, you will take your finished piece home with you.

Vambraces Craft Lab 25

Basic armouring - Make a Pair of Vambraces

Bring out your inner medieval warrior with this full-day armour smithing experience with armourer, Rob Hayes.

Indigo Craft Lab 25

Introduction to Indigo

Immerse yourself in the world of indigo with natural dyer Jude Craig. 
 
In this full-day workshop, you will learn about the origins of this ancient dye and spend time with the vat creating a range of blue hues. 
 
Jude will guide you through creating colour samples and experimenting with resist techniques. 
 
At the end of the workshop, you will have a beautiful silk scarf to wear home, dyed with your own hands.

Relief Craft Lab 25

Relief Carving (Koi Fish or Gum Leaves)

Learn the art of relief carving with woodworker Olivia O'Connor. 
 
This is a day-long class where you will get a feel for woodcarving and hand-carve your own wooden panel from a choice of designs (koi fish or gum 
leaves). 
 
At the end of the workshop, you will take your finished piece home with you.

Solander Box Craft Lab 25

Cloth Covered Solander Style Box

Learn to make a solander style box with bookbinder and conservator Debra Parry. 
 
In this half-day workshop, you will make a box from card and book cloth or buckram which can be used to store books, papers or other items. 
 
At the end of the workshop, you can take the finished product home with you.

Pecha Kucha Craft Lab 2025

Presented by The Australian Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades and The Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections, this Pecha Kucha series is 
produced by thinkers and creatives, for thinkers and creatives.

Pecha Kucha Series

Craft Lab 2025 Journal Header

We're collaborating with the City of Ballarat and Craft Lab 25 in presenting a suite of events.

Craft Lab 25

Pecha Kucha Series

You might also be interested in

Deborah Klein Dimensional Illustrations Strike Again!

Pecha Kucha 05 Recap: COLLECTIONS

Pecha Kucha 04 Recap: COLLABORATION

Rare Trades Centre at Lost Trades Fair and Beyond