Author: Sydney Spectaculars

The world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas is reaching out to creative minds from across the globe, inviting them to share their ideas for Vivid Sydney 2016.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres, announced Expressions Of Interest (EOI) are now open to creative individuals and organisations seeking to participate in the Vivid Light and Vivid Ideas programs when Vivid Sydney returns from 27 May to 13 June 2016.

“Vivid Sydney presents a remarkable opportunity for artists and creative industry professionals to realise their vision on a grand scale, with a record 1.7 million people attending the festival this year” Mr Ayres said.

“For 18 days during Vivid Sydney, the city becomes a canvas for creative expression, bringing together the best and brightest minds from across the globe to engage in industry forums while transforming the city into an outdoor gallery of extraordinary lighting projections and sculptures.”

“This is an amazing opportunity to be involved in Vivid Sydney. I encourage everyone to register their Expressions Of Interest in working with us to deliver another spectacular festival in 2016” he said.

The Vivid Light EOI invites lighting artists, designers, students and manufacturers from around the world to illuminate, interpret and transform Sydney’s urban spaces and provide ground-breaking, sustainable and interactive light creations around The Rocks, Circular Quay, Walsh Bay, Darling Harbour, the CBD and surrounds.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase, said Expressions Of Interest are also being sought from individuals, businesses, industry associations and institutions to submit events for inclusion in the Vivid Ideas program.

“Vivid Ideas provides a platform for thought-leadership in the creative sector, bringing together the conversations, conventions and big announcements for the industry. This year more than 70,000 people attended Vivid Ideas and I encourage everyone to share their ideas and join in the conversation at our world-renowned festival” Ms Chipchase said.

Expressions Of Interest to participate in the 2016 Vivid Light and Vivid Ideas programs close at midnight AEST on Wednesday the 23rd of September 2015. For more information, visit www.vividsydney.com.

Vivid Sydney is owned and managed by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney has been recognised as a world leading event, taking out one of the top honours at the 2015 Pacific Asia Travel Association Grand and Gold Awards.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said Vivid Sydney won the Gold Award in the Marketing – State Government Destination category, recognising state or city tourism organisations.

“This is great news for New South Wales (NSW) and this win highlights how important the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas is for our great state,” Mr Ayres said.

“The win reinforces the professionalism of Destination NSW’s marketing promotional activities and the success of how they work with partners to develop travel packages and other activities to increase awareness of and visitation to Vivid Sydney.”

“The popularity of Vivid Sydney continues to increase with 1.7 million people visiting the festival this year on the back of this campaign. This included the sale of over 26,000 international Vivid Sydney travel packages with more than 11,000 packages sold to China.”

The Pacific Asia Travel Association Awards recognise exceptional achievement in a range of activities in the Asia-Pacific travel industry. There were 269 entries from 83 travel and tourism organisations and individuals across the world in this year’s awards.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase, said Vivid Sydney continues to receive international recognition.

“Vivid Sydney is a huge cross city collaboration of private enterprise and government agencies. It is testament to the great teamwork and innovation at Destination NSW channelled through our overseas offices and our marketing, communications, industry partnerships and event development divisions that our work has been internationally recognised,” Ms Chipchase said.

Vivid Sydney was awarded Best Tourism Event in both 2014 and 2013 at the Australian Event Awards, the prestigious national awards for the Australian events industry.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

VIVID SYDNEY ENCOURAGES VISITORS TO PLAN FOR WEEKDAY VISIT AHEAD OF LONG WEEKEND

With just one week to go until lights off at midnight Monday June 8th, visitors are being encouraged to visit Vivid Sydney early in the week and ahead of the final weekend.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said: “With only eight nights to go of Vivid Sydney, people who haven’t yet experienced the festival or want to come back for another look should plan their visit early this week.”

“Weeknights are a great time to take in the Vivid Light Walk not only around Circular Quay and The Rocks, but also into Walsh Bay and Martin Place and our newest precincts at Central Park and Chatswood.”

“If you haven’t caught the sensational Vivid Laser-Fountain Water Theatre at Darling Harbour there are shows every half an hour, with special fireworks shows at 7pm on Wednesday and Thursday.”

“With road closures in place during Vivid, visitors should leave the car at home and catch public transport,” he said.

An additional 3,500 public transport services have been provided throughout the festival. Visit www.vividsydney.com for more information.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

The Cenotaph in Sydney’s Martin Place is once again being lit every night during Vivid Sydney as a mark of respect to Australia’s past and present servicemen and servicewomen.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said the lighting was supported by the NSW Returned & Services League (RSL) of Australia and symbolises the different branches of the armed services and the various theatres in which they have served.

“The Cenotaph is Martin Place’s most recognised feature and the very location where thousands of Sydney’s soldiers enlisted into the Australian Armed Forces for World War I. It is fitting in the Centenary of ANZAC that the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas embraces it as an important part of its program,” Mr Ayres said.

“The lighting is reminiscent of the various environments in which our soldiers have fought, from the poppy fields of Europe, to the deserts of the Middle East and the jungles of Asia.”

“Taking viewers on a journey from the break of dawn to the final sunset bugle call, the lighting of the Cenotaph ensures the monument remains a place for quiet reflection and remembrance during Vivid Sydney,” Mr Ayres added.

Rod White AM RFD, State President of the RSL’s NSW branch said the lighting is an important tribute.

“Following last year’s respectful treatment of the Martin Place Cenotaph for Vivid Sydney, the RSL was supportive of the monument being lit again this year,” Mr White said.

“We are delighted with this year’s projections, and feel it does justice to the importance of the Cenotaph and the dedication of the many servicemen and servicewomen whom it honours.”

The Cenotaph will be lit with the evocative Vivid Sydney projections from 6pm to midnight until 8 June.

Media Release: Minister for Trade, Tourism, Major Events & Sport – Stuart Ayres MP

The world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney, is in full swing and romantics are making the most of the loved-up atmosphere including retired Sydney Swans player Jude Bolton and his wife, popular media personality Lynette Carroll-Bolton, who have created their own Vivid Sydney date night trail featuring their festival highlights.

Jude and Lynette shared an illuminated cocktail and seafood platter at Opera Bar while taking in the stunning projections on the Sydney Opera House sails, before strolling along the Light Walk to see some of Vivid Sydney’s most romantic installations.

Lynette said: “We love heading into Vivid Sydney every year. Each year the lights get even more and more spectacular! Now that we have two little ones we have to make specific plans for date night and walking around Vivid is the perfect way to spend the night.”

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said: “It’s great to see people out and about enjoying their unique version of Vivid Sydney, including couples like Jude and Lynette, who are inspiring others to enjoy a Vivid Sydney date through their own Vivid Trail.”

“Vivid Sydney attracted more than 1.43 million attendees in 2014. With visitors coming to Sydney from right across the world for the event again this year, there’s no doubt our city will hold a special place in even more couples’ hearts.”

Sandra Chipchase, Chief Executive Officer of Destination NSW, which owns and manages Vivid Sydney, said: “People both young and old have professed their love against the backdrop of Vivid Sydney’s colourful canvas. This year will be no different with loving installations such as Heart of the City, which pulses with the rhythm of your heartbeat, and Clouds, which features 100 floating orbs, among the attractions perfect for enjoying on a romantic evening stroll.”

“The Vivid Sydney app, which can be downloaded for free now from iTunes and Google Play, can help you design your own perfect date night, or lead you along the itinerary curated by our star couple Jude Bolton and Lynette Carroll-Bolton,” she said.

Jude and Lynette’s top Vivid Sydney date night tips, which you can find on their Vivid Trail, include:

• Sydney Opera House: Start your date night with an illuminated Vivid cocktail and a fresh seafood tasting plate overlooking Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the CBD at Opera Bar.
• Heart of the City: Start the Vivid Light Walk with Heart of the City where the installation pulses according to the rhythm of your heartbeat. Sit side by side with your sweetheart and share what’s in your heart.
• Cloud: Continue your Vivid Light Walk around Circular Quay being sure to hold hands as you walk under Cloud, an array of 100 orbs hanging overhead creating stunning and memorable effects.
• Enchanted Sydney: Pause for a while outside beautiful Customs House in Circular Quay and soak up Enchanted Sydney, where free-flowing images of Sydney’s flora and fauna are projected onto the façade of this iconic building.
• Affinity: Affinity is a representation of the human brain, where light and sound connect people using hundreds of intersecting neurons. Be connected to your significant other in a unique way with each new interaction creating dazzling light displays as the brain changes its physical structure into more dynamic pathways.
• Threads: Create a new connection with your beau at Threads, an interactive installation inviting visitors to use two tablets and draw a line, with threads of light and sound created to signify the connection and relationship between one another.
• You Are Here: Create the perfect long lasting memory and snap yourselves together at the You Are Here arrow, with the Sydney Opera House as the perfect backdrop.
• Vivid Sydney GameZone at Pyrmont & The Star: Walk through the spectacle of Pyrmont’s Harbourside precinct and try out a range of interactive games together. When you’re done, indulge at BLACK by ezard at The Star for an irresistible Vivid dessert tasting platter with matching dessert wines.

Vivid Sydney is owned and managed by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The largest event of its kind in the world, Vivid Sydney runs until Monday 8 June. For more information on Vivid Sydney, including Vivid Trails, visit www.vividsydney.com.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

The opening weekend of Vivid Sydney has seen more than a quarter of a million people take in the bright lights of the harbour city as the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas got underway.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said the festival’s crowd numbers for opening weekend were up on last year despite wet weather early on.

“Just six years ago, Vivid Sydney welcomed 225,000 people throughout the festival’s entire duration, while this year, almost 280,000 spectators came to experience opening weekend alone,” Mr Ayres said.

“Vivid Sydney is fantastic for local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars and food vendors, with opening weekend survey results showing 73% of visitors purchased food or drinks whilst enjoying the festival.”

“With another two weeks of Vivid Sydney to go and mild weather forecast for much of next week, we expect to welcome many more visitors to one of Australia’s favourite events,” Mr Ayres concluded.

Those attending Vivid Sydney are encouraged to take advantage of the extra trains, buses and ferries which will run throughout the festival.

Owned and managed by Destination NSW, more than 1.43 million attendees visited Vivid Sydney in 2014, 30,000 of which were visiting from overseas.

Vivid Sydney continues each night from 6pm until midnight until Monday 8 June.

Media Release: Stuart Ayres MP – Minister for Trade, Tourism, Major Events & Sport

The University of Sydney has been transformed into a glittering canvas of light, live performance and inspiring ideas as Vivid Sydney continues to amaze visitors with the official launch of Vivid Path To The Future.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said: “This evening I was delighted to join University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence to launch this year’s Vivid Path To The Future program, which has returned with expanded programming touching on Vivid’s three creative pillars – light, music and ideas.”

“Vivid Sydney is where art, technology and commerce intersect, and with exceptional academic staff and students across each of these three areas, it is only natural that Australia’s oldest university plays a big role in this year’s festival and I encourage everyone to explore this exciting Vivid Sydney precinct,” he said.

Throughout the next week, the university’s Quadrangle façade will come alive with vibrant 3D–mapped light projections, created by more than 40 local and international artists, including staff, students and local collaborators. An impressive light walk features along the main promenade and the Sea of Hands, an interactive installation, will grow throughout the festival.

In addition to the light installations and projections, the University’s program features a series of music performances at the Seymour Centre, Musify and Gamify – home for the most innovative new ideas in Australian music.

“The University of Sydney is thrilled to be part of Vivid for a second year. This is a wonderful opportunity for our talented staff and students to collaborate and showcase new ideas and directions in art, music and technology. The University looks forward to welcoming and inspiring the Sydney community with a dynamic program of lights, music and ideas over the next seven days,” said Dr Michael Spence.

Vivid Sydney is owned and managed by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The largest event of its kind in the world, Vivid Sydney runs for 18 nights from Friday 22 May until Monday 8 June.

Vivid Path To The Future will run from 25–31 May. To see the program and to plan your trip to Vivid Sydney visit www.vividsydney.com.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney