On Wed 16th July 2025, members heard from Judy-Ann Quilliam, Executive Officer of Ballarat’s Royal South Street Society (RSSS).
Judy-Ann spoke to us about Royal South Street – Australia’s oldest and largest eisteddfod – addressing the question, ‘What does performing arts look like in the coming years?’. Judy-Ann outlined the impact of this premier performing arts event on: Ballarat’s culture and heritage, regional tourism, local suppliers and venues and eisteddfod participants themselves. At South Street 2024 for example, of the 20,000 performances across all disciplines 2,558 were by local entrants, showing that most participants come from outside Ballarat. In this year’s Aria semi-final, some of Australia’s finest operatic singers are performing here. Judy-Ann said it is imperative for RSSS to be able to demonstrate impact in a world where, by comparison, sports patronage and financial support for sporting organisations is much higher than that afforded the performing arts. As RSSS goes into strategic planning for 2026-2030, initiatives such as the Royal Treasure Trail and connecting with Tourism Midwest Victoria are part of maintaining and further promoting South Street’s excellent profile in order to attract additional funding and audiences.
Judy-Ann described how RSSS’s vision for the relationship between ‘grass-roots’ performers like school students and South Street as a premier eisteddfod may change in the future, reflecting too on the ways in which the development of young performers relies heavily on the school sector. In the instrumental music category for instance, the lag effect on both individuals and groups from having missed out on the teaching of instruments during the COVID years continues unfortunately. Now that RSSS no longer ‘owns’ Her Majesty’s Theatre, the changing use of venues according to discipline was also discussed briefly. Judy-Ann mentioned at the start of her talk that she last spoke with Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast 12 months ago and that she was most appreciative of the opportunity to return, thanking the club for their financial support and letting us know that RCWB’s most recent sponsorship monies had been directed to prizes in the Dance and Choral Sections of one of Ballarat’s much-loved institutions, South Street.
