1 Week To Glow!

BIGGEST-EVER VIVID SYDNEY LIGHTS UP ON 26 MAY

With just 1 week to go until the city bursts into a brilliant array of colour for Vivid Sydney 2017, it is time to peer into the program & plan your perfect visit to the world’s largest celebration of light, music and ideas.

Over 23 nights from Friday 26 May to Saturday 17 June, Vivid Sydney 2017 – proudly owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW – will transform Sydney into a breathtaking vision of colour across seven precincts, including the introduction of the festival’s newest precinct, Barangaroo (South).

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer and Vivid Sydney Executive Producer Sandra Chipchase said, “As Vivid Sydney continues to grow, so does the depth and breadth of events on offer. No matter what your interests, from niche to mainstream, Vivid Sydney has you covered, from creative collaborations, musical musings and maestros; to luminaries, instigators and disruptors redefining our creative future; and the ingenuity and innovation delivering Vivid Sydney’s boldest colourful canvas of lights ever.

“Pick your program and precinct highlights and plan your visit to Vivid Sydney now to make the most of the ample opportunities to experience the city at its brilliant best,” Ms Chipchase said.

There’s more to see and do than ever before at this year’s Vivid Sydney as hundreds of artists, musicians, thinkers and creatives prepare to share their musings and masterpieces with locals and visitors.

There’ll be more dazzling lights with over 90 installations and projections. There’ll be more light bulb moments, with more than 280 thought provoking Vivid Ideas sessions to illuminate and ignite debate and discussion; while more than 400 music events – more than double last year – will light up stages across Sydney, providing the soundtrack to the city’s favourite festival.

Highlights include:

VIVID LIGHT

Over 90 light installations and projections created by 180 Australian and international artists across seven precincts will light up Vivid Sydney 2017. Some highlights include:

  • Lighting Of The Sails – Audio Creatures: Dive into an indescribable world of colour and light, from pulsating sea creatures lurking deep in the harbour to shimmering plant life above it, in this audio and visual feast projected on the city’s ultimate canvas, the sails of the Sydney Opera House. (Circular Quay)
  • Trapdoor: Did the earth move for you? Step into this incredible optical illusion if you dare and see a spectacular, mysterious, cavernous underworld open before your eyes – and under your feet. Fantastical floor murals and sensational scene swaps spring to life to tell the stories of Barangaroo. (Barangaroo South)
  • Magicians Of The Mist: Lasers, fountains, flame jets, music and fireworks will celebrate the power of creativity and innovation through millenia in this spectacular projection show. (Darling Harbour)
  • Electric Forest: Enter a strange world of illuminated plants, illusions and a changing psychoacoustic soundtrack as the forest comes to life, from wild hanging fruits to schools of fish, all projected onto a stunning giant fig tree in this collaborative piece by TAFE NSW art, design, animation and music students. (The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney)
  • Lights For The Wild: Step into the mouth and walk through PJ the Port Jackson Shark, one of the many illuminated sculptures of endangered animals that captivate young and old and shine a light on conservation. (Taronga Zoo)
  • Steampunk Waterworld: No need to go 20,000 leagues under the sea. An incredible submerged steampunk water world of lights, sounds and special effects inspired by the likes of Jules Verne awaits at the Reflection Pool in The Concourse. (Chatswood)

VIVID MUSIC

More than 400 music events and creative collaborations will entertain audiences across 40 venues, including:

  • Curve Ball: After a sensational debut last year, creatives, artists and musicians return to deliver another immersive audio and visual spectacular combining quality dance music and stunning visuals. This large scale live music event curated by Fuzzy music will feature SAFIA, Client Liason, and Tkay Maidza (3pm-10pm Sunday 11 June, Carriageworks).
  • Hidden Sydney – The Glittering Mile: An exhilarating excursion into the roller coaster ride that is the story of Kings Cross and the colourful cast of characters that gave it its gritty, glittery history. (25 May – 18 June, The World Bar, Kings Cross).
  • Nick Murphy (formerly known as ‘Chet Faker’) Presents Missing Link: Something old, something new. The Charismatic hit-maker premieres new material and resurrects old favourites in an ambitious in-the-round performance. (1 to 3 June, Sydney Opera House).
  • Dappled Cities: Sydney based indie rock band Dappled Cities present their new album IIIII (pronounced five). Combining their trademark layered soundscape with an immersive lighting spectacle the one-off concert will showcase the characteristic ethereal melodies and textures that have made Dappled Cities one of the most beloved indie bands to emerge from Sydney over the past two decades. (4 June, City Recital Hall)

VIVID IDEAS

Over 280 Vivid Ideas sessions featuring 370 speakers from 12 countries across 67 venues will ignite conversation among visitors, including:

  • Game-Changer: What’s the buzz? Find out what the future holds for media in the social age at this talk from the Web’s king of viral content, Buzzfeed founder, CEO and media visionary Jonah Peretti. (28 May, City Recital Hall)
  • Game-Changer: Academy Award-winning director Oliver Stone will appear in conversation with Margaret Pomeranz. The Hollywood veteran is lauded for some of the most influential films of our time. (28 May, City Recital Hall)
  • Game-Changer: One of the world’s most respected street artists, the iconic Shepard Fairey will create one of his largest public murals ever in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. Best known for his Barack Obama HOPE campaign, and this year’s ‘We The People’ initiative, Shepard will be sharing his do-it-yourself approach, his career highlights, and how he managed to turn his creativity into an authentic voice in street culture. (17 June, Sydney Town Hall)
  • The Sunrise Conference: Hear directly from start-up founders fostering an innovative start up ecosystem. They’re contrarians, innovators and entrepreneurs and they’re sharing their stories and insights into the future of technology and business. (31 May, Carriageworks)
  • Semi Permanent: Attend live events, workshops and presentations from trailblazers that are shaking things up as they design the future at this series of interactive, immersive experiences, with innovators from Getty Images, Nike, Uber, Google and more. (25-27 May, Carriageworks)
  • Good Design Festival: Join designing minds and check out the annual award winners and experience the world’s best design, creativity and innovation in everything from cars and furniture to gadgets and apps at the free Good Design Showcase Exhibition. (8 – 11 June, Overseas Passenger Terminal)

TOP TIPS FOR VISITORS

Make the most of your Vivid Sydney experience with these handy hints:

  • Time it right – Early in the festival, early in the week and early in the evening are the most relaxed times to enjoy Vivid Sydney. Lights on at 6pm.
  • Get an even earlier start – It’s lights on from 5:30pm at Taronga Zoo and Chatswood – ideal to get young children home for bedtime or take in the lights before dining out.
  • Travel smart – Vivid Sydney precincts are close to public transport links and extra train and bus services will operate throughout the festival. The best train stations to access Vivid Sydney precincts are Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Martin Place and Chatswood. Exhibition Centre and Convention are the best Light Rail stops for the Darling Harbour precinct.
  • Leave the car at home – Extensive city road closures and special event clearways will be in place in the CBD and The Rocks and will make driving and parking difficult, so leave your car at home and take public transport.
  • Stay up to date – Keep a Vivid Sydney planner in your pocket using the smartphone app or website on your mobile device for the latest information and locations. Download the Vivid Sydney app or visit the Vivid Sydney website at vividsydney.com.
  • Keep kids safe – Pick up a wristband from Vivid Sydney information booths at Darling Harbour, Customs House & West Circular Quay, add your contact number and pop it on your childrens’ wrists to make it easy to be reunited should you get separated.
  • Help is at hand – Look for Vivid Sydney’s friendly army of volunteers in their bright pink jackets who are there to answer your questions or point you in the right direction.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney