Established in 2000, through the initiative and generosity of Ballarat South Rotary Club, with ongoing support from the local community, Ballarat Arts Foundation has continued to assist and encourage the aspirations of local, emerging, contemporary artists who have lived, worked or studied in the regional city of Ballarat by providing an ongoing program of seed funding, connections, mentoring, training and support.

Through presenting a biennial exhibition, the Foundation is also able to provide a unique opportunity for their Visual Arts alumni to showcase their work alongside their peers with the opportunity to receive the major prestigious Eureka Art Award of $2,500 or the $500 People’s Choice Award.

By granting awards to a broad range of talented artists in a wide variety of disciplines in the visual and performing arts, the Foundation continues to enable local contemporary artists to develop and advance their careers locally, nationally and internationally.

DELVE 18 showcases recent work by Masters and PhD research candidates at the Arts Academy, Federation University Australia. With candidates at varying stages of their research, this exhibition reflects diverse ideas and bold approaches to the students' individual field of enquiry. This exhibition is also an indicator of the continuing long and proud history of Federation University Australia and predecessor institutions' Visual Arts programs dating back to the early 1990s.