Category: ‘Flagship’ Sydney Spectaculars

Second Sydney Harbour Bridge Light Show For Vivid Sydney 2014 – ‘The Vivid Climb’

For the first time in 2014, turn the ‘climb of your life’ into your very own light show thanks to BridgeClimb Sydney. By wearing a special ‘Vivid Climb’ vest, your heartbeat brightens up the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in your own personal light show. As your heart beats, the Bridge beats. Be at one with the structure as your heartbeat brightens up the summit in a vibrant light show. Your display will be as unique as you – the lights will react based on your exhilaration. The ‘Vivid Climb’ will only be available during all climbs departing at night during Vivid Sydney (23 May – 9 June 2014). A ‘Vivid Climb’ in Mandarin departs at 5pm each night during Vivid Sydney.

The Star Features In Vivid Sydney For The First Time In 2014

For the first time in 2014, The Star joins Vivid Sydney as the entire façade of the Astral Tower, The Darling hotel and Sky Terrace rooftop is transformed into a massive light show. The spectacular show will be visible from many vantage points across the city including the Barangaroo-Darling Harbour-Pyrmont precinct. And exclusively at The Star, highlights of Vivid from across the city will be show at the Vivid Bar while guests soak up the ambiance. Sip on a Vivid-inspired cocktail, enjoy great accommodation and dining packages, as well as the entertainment on offer at The Star. The Astral Tower is lit by The Electric Canvas every night from 6pm to midnight, 23 May to 9 June 2014.

Vivid Photography

Looking for helpful hints to capture the colours of Vivid Sydney 2014? Representatives from Canon Australia will be in the Light Walk precinct to help you get the best results. For useful camera tips, go to canon.com.au/imagespectrum. Vantage points for photographers are located around the Harbour from North Sydney and Luna Park to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Dawes Point, Cockle Bay and Pyrmont Bridge. Share your Vivid photos with #vividsydney.

Sydney in Winter: Love Every Second Magazine

A 40-page full colour magazine titled ‘Sydney in Winter: Love Every Second’ , has been inserted into more than 2 million newspapers across Australia and New Zealand from Sunday 30 March 2014. It features over 20 dedicated pages to Vivid Sydney 2014 and will also be available on the Apple Newsstand from early May 2014. Distribution of the magazine will cease around late July 2014.

MIDLAKE Play Vivid LIVE At The Sydney Opera House

Rewiring fan favourites and their cult hits with a freewheeling honesty on stage, MIDLAKE return in adventurous form for a startling new chapter – a band re-born for a heart-rending opening to Vivid LIVE At The Sydney Opera House on Friday May 23rd May 2014 at 8:30pm. Tickets went on sale at 9am on Monday 31st March 2014.

Second James Vincent McMorrow Performance For Vivid LIVE At The Sydney Opera House 2014

Miss out on tickets to James Vincent McMorrow at Vivid LIVE At The Sydney Opera House? Never fear! They have announced a second performance for Saturday May 31!  Tickets went on sale at 9am on April 9.

Stand Up, Stand Out: Call For Applications

Here’s your chance to win $3,000! As part of Vivid Ideas 2014, Pozible presents ‘Stand Up, Stand Out’, a one night only live pitching event to take place at the Museum of Contemporary Art. 4 selected participants will be asked to deliver a 5 minute pitch of their creative crowdfunding campaign to a live audience as well as a 5-10 minute performance of what they do – be that a film screening, music performance, fashion show or anything else! The event will be hosted by Sydney comedian, filmmaker, writer and successful Pozible crowdfunder Dan Ilic, who raised more than $50,000 to create a 10 week satirical comedy, A Rational Fear. On the night every member of the audience will have $30 to pledge to their favourite pitch. All projects must have a $30 reward to offer in return for pledges. All support received by projects on the night will go towards their campaigns. Once all pitches have been made the number of pledges for each project will be tallied and the one with the most will receive a further $3000 thanks to Foxtel’s arts & entertainment channel STUDIO. Pozible is accepting submissions from creatives for ‘Stand Up, Stand Out‘ until April 20.

Sydney Film Festival Preview

Here are 26 films to feature at the 2014 Sydney Film Festival:

• Altman on Altman (On Sale Now)
• Black Coal, Thin Ice
• Cold in July
• E-Team
• Frank
• Gabrielle
• God Help the Girl
• Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy?
• Joe
• Killers
• Love Is Strange
• The Lunchbox
• Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me
• Omar
• Particle Fever
• Pulp
• The Redfern Story
• Rosebud Exhibition at the Hub
• Ruin
• Sepideh: Reaching for the Stars
• The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (On Sale Now)
• Tom at the Farm
• Ukraine Is Not a Brothel
• The Unknown Known
• Watermark
• We Are the Best!

Sydney Film Festival 2014 Flexipasses are also now on sale. If you buy a Flexipass before April 24th, you will automatically go into the draw to win a VIP Opening Night Gala experience for two. Sydney Film Festival runs June 4 – 15 2014.

New Wave: Sound at Vivid Sydney 2014

• Collarbones Meets Synergy Percussion

Premiere Performance: Best of Collarbones, all original sound-design remix like never before. Live percussion and digital wizardry thrash it out on stage in this coming-together of two musical powerhouses. Synergy’s raw, delicate and brutal percussion soundscape is the perfect prism for re-imagining Collarbones’ catchy rhythmic asymmetries, mesmeric harmonies and intricately layered detail. Acoustic percussion textures are manipulated live, Marcus’ hefty soulful voice rises out of the chaos, beats drop and then recede against a spare but cinematic musical backdrop. Tickets went on sale on 12th April.

• The Adventures of Prince Achmed

The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) is a silent silhouette animation by Lotte Reineger, considered by many to be the first feature-length animated film. The story, taken from The Arabian Nights, takes you on a fantastical journey, where you encounter a wicked sorcerer, a magical flying horse, an army of monsters and demons, a beautiful princess, and, of course, Aladdin and his magic lamp. The music combines both a live band and a pre-recorded electronic soundtrack, in a boundary-crossing style that includes jazz, blues, rock, classical, electronica and new music. Composer Phillip Johnston has been creating new scores for silent films for 25 years, and has performed his work in the United States, Europe and Australia, at venues that include the New York Film Festival, The Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema, the Roma Jazz & Image Festival (ITALY), Rote Fabrik (Switzerland), as well as the Melbourne International Festival of the Arts, the Sydney Film Festival, and the Sydney Opera House. The Adventures of Prince Achmed is a cutting-edge work of new music and silent film that is fun for the whole family! Tickets went on sale on the 21st April 2014.

The Sydney Opera House Tour – Celebrating VIVID LIVE

Concerts and lights aren’t the only things to see at Vivid LIVE At The Sydney Opera House 2014 – step behind the scenes and experience their state-of-the-art recording studio, where the artists warm-up, and much more with The Sydney Opera House Tour – Celebrating VIVID LIVE!

The Loop’s Portfolio Masterclasses

Hosted by The Loop at Vivid Sydney 2014, get feedback from the professionals on your portfolio (advertising, graphic design, fashion, photography plus more!).

Industry Insight – Graphic Design In 2020

Want to know what trends we will be navigating  in the next 6 years? Experts give their top 3 picks at Industry Insight – Graphic Design In 2020 at Vivid Sydney 2014.

The Internet Of Things – From Electric Dreams to Reality

Tickets are now on sale to get schooled on the emerging ‘Internet of Things – From Electric Dreams to Reality’ at Vivid Sydney 2014. You can get an early bird discount plus access to an IRL after-party with drinks & canapés.

The Big (Shift) To Smarter Working

9am to 5pm? Yawn! The Big (Shift) To Smarter Working will explain how work is changing and why that’s a good thing at Vivid Sydney 2014.

A Cheat’s Guide To Getting That Thing Off The Ground

Hindsight is 20/20 – Hear 4 self-starters tell what they’d do differently if starting-up from scratch at A Cheat’s Guide To Getting That Thing Off The Ground, hosted by Junkee at Vivid Sydney 2014.

‘Making Iconic Houses’ – Iconic Houses Talk Series 

Grand Designs’ Peter Maddison and Karen McCartney explain once and for all what makes a house iconic at ‘Making Iconic Houses’ – Iconic Houses Talk Series held during Vivid Sydney 2014.

Appetite For Distraction

The findings from one of the most in-depth studies into how 16-30 year olds share information is revealed at Appetite For Distraction held during Vivid Sydney 2014.

Blog Society: The Retreat

From labour of love to full-time job – learn how to evolve your blog at this crash course titled Blog Society: The Retreat at Vivid Sydney 2014.

Designers’ Den

It all comes down to the survival of the best designs at Designers’ Den during Vivid Sydney 2014! Witness the design process in action as they throw emerging designers to the industry’s Design Dragons. At the event, a pre-selected number of contestants will be invited to present their designs to a panel of industry experts before a live audience in a suspense filled game-show format. At Designers’ Den contestants have a unique opportunity to present their ‘idea’ to our carefully curated panel to gather invaluable feedback in their quest for design survival. Our panel of experts represents various ways that success can be defined, through different facets and approaches of the ‘design to market’ process.

China Australia Millennial Project (CAMP) Workshop

Contribute to the first ever crowd-sourced China-Australia ideas jam on June 2 2014 via this international workshop at Vivid Sydney 2014. Within Vivid Ideas 2015, 100 young innovators from China will touch down in Sydney and collaborate with 100 peers from Australia. Together, participants will hack into the Australia-China relationship to create new solutions for issues common to both our countries.  In order to shape this world-first event in 2015, this June 2014 workshop is inviting key influencers (you) in innovation, entrepreneurship, social change and investment and across sectors such as creative industries, education, science and technology, business, government and more. The workshop is an exciting opportunity to explore and learn about international relations in an increasingly globalised world, and a genuine opportunity to co-create a new way for two nations to craft the future.

Cinecity: Making

30 short film screenings about architecture selected by world-renowned experts at Vivid Sydney 2014.

Made For People: Wearable Tech & Healthcare

Wearable technology and healthcare trends and forecasts from market leaders Google, Samsung USA, Microsoft, Nike, and more as part of Made For People: Wearable Tech & Healthcare at Vivid Sydney 2014.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2013 – ‘Shine’ Banners & Lanyards Sold Out!

The Sydney New Year’s Eve 2013 – ‘Shine’ banners & lanyards are now sold out.

NSW Lotteries Scratch eClub – Instant Scratch-Its National Treasure Second Chance Draw Promotion

Are you a member of NSW Lotteries’ Scratch eClub? Well if you purchase a ‘NSW Lotteries $2 National Treasure Instant Scratch-Its Ticket‘ and lose, log on to the NSW Lotteries Scratch eClub website and proceed to the entry page for the ‘NSW Lotteries Scratch eClub – Instant Scratch-Its National Treasure Second Chance Draw Promotion’. Enter the SYS code and you will go into the running to win a $12,000 Sydney New Year’s Eve 2014 holiday package for you and 3 friends which include:

• A return economy flight to Sydney from the main commercial airport nearest the winner’s residence in New South Wales, with flights to be scheduled between 30 December 2014 and 4 January 2015;
• 3 nights’ accommodation at a 4 star hotel in Sydney of the promoter’s choice consisting of a total of two rooms with each room being for two people twin share for three nights between 30 December 2014 and 4 January 2015;
• Tickets to a New Year’s Eve event located in the vicinity of Circular Quay in Sydney to be held on 31 December 2014, which will include viewing of the Sydney New Year’s Eve 2014 fireworks, general entertainment and limited food;
• Travel transfers in Sydney consisting of a return transfer in a chauffeur driven black sedan car from Sydney Domestic Airport to a four star hotel in Sydney chosen by the promoter
• $1,000 spending money for the winner

Competition runs from 12am AEST Monday 14th April 2014 until 11:59pm AEST Monday 12th May 2014. Terms and conditions apply. Gamble responsibly.

Vivid LIVE, the centrepiece music program of Vivid Sydney, is set to tune music lovers in everywhere, with the full program line-up revealed yesterday. Contemporary, cutting edge and influential acts will grace the stages of the Sydney Opera House from 23 May to 1 June as part of Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest festival of light, music and ideas.

This year’s Vivid LIVE line-up features world renowned performers such as indie-rock band Pixies and Ms. Lauryn Hill, as well as Sydney Opera House debutants St. Vincent and Anna Calvi. There are also exciting performances by disco legend Giorgio Moroder in his Australian debut, James Vincent McMorrow, and Sydney’s Goodgod Small Club who is presenting South African Penny Penny, as well as many more.

“With the combination of creativity and inspirational artists across light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney is a unique and very special festival that provides opportunities not only for local Australian talent, but global talent to be part of this exciting event,” said Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner.

“Vivid LIVE 2014 is set to wow audiences once again with music genres including indie-rock, hip-hop, electronic, disco, folk, pop and classical. The performances are all special and unique.”

“Of course The Sails of the Sydney Opera House will again captivate the visitors to Vivid Sydney, as they did to over 800,000 people last year, ensuring the festival gives a boost to retail stores, hotels and restaurants over the winter period,” Mr Stoner said.

Last year over 800,000 visitors contributed more than $20 million in new money to the NSW economy during Vivid Sydney 2013, and 40,000 tickets were sold for Vivid LIVE.

The Lighting Of The Sails of the Sydney Opera House, a much loved 3D projection spectacle, is on from 6pm until midnight every night during Vivid Sydney (23 May – 9 June). The sails are this year being designed by award-winning creative agency 59 Productions, whose recent inspiring work has included the Games of the XXXth Olympiad: London 2012 – Opening Ceremony.

Tickets to Vivid LIVE are on sale to the general public on Monday 31 March at 9am at sydneyoperahouse.com/vividLIVE.

The Vivid LIVE 2014 program includes:

The Lighting Of The Sails: 59 PRODUCTIONS

Pixies

Red Bull Music Academy presents ‘The Music of Moroder – The Heritage Orchestra’

Red Bull Music Academy presents ‘Giorgio Moroder In Conversation’

‘Timeline’ – Australian Chamber Orchestra featuring The Presets

Ms. Lauryn Hill

St. Vincent

James Vincent McMorrow

Anna Calvi

Nils Frahm

Kate Miller-Heidke

‘Since I Left You – A Celebration Of The Avalanches’ with Jonti & The Astral Kids

Goodgod Tin Pan Alley

Red Bull Music Academy presents ‘The Giorgio Moroder Studio Party’

Astral People

R.I.P Society 5TH Birthday – 10 Band Revue

Siberian Nights

Future Classic

About Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House

From 23 May – 1 June, Sydney Opera House will welcome some of the most ambitious and innovative local and international artists for Vivid LIVE – a ten-day celebration of music on the nation’s most famous stages – as part of Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest festival of light, music and ideas.

Vivid LIVE invites the world’s leading artists, creative collectives, promoters and digital animators to raise the roof of Sydney Opera House’s theatres, rehearsal spaces, recording studios and most famously, its iconic sails, which are transformed into a unique canvas each year for Vivid Sydney.

Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House, 23 May to 1 June. For more information visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com/vividlive

About Vivid Sydney 2014

Vivid Sydney is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, which for 18 days – from 23 May to 9 June 2014 – transforms the Harbour City with its colourful creative canvas. Now in its sixth year, and owned and managed by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Vivid Sydney features large scale light installations and projections (Vivid Light); music performances and collaborations (Vivid Music including Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House); and creative ideas, discussion and debate (Vivid Ideas), all celebrating Sydney as the creative hub of the Asia-Pacific. Vivid Sydney, 23 May to 9 June: For more information visit www.vividsydney.com

Vivid Sydney is set to enthral audiences once again with the largest program of light, music and ideas in its six year history, NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner announced today. The 18 day festival, named Australia’s Event of the Year in 2013, is on from 23 May to 9 June.

Vivid Sydney is a signature event in the Sydney and NSW Events Calendar, and welcomes back Vivid Sydney partner Intel, with major supporters for 2014, Canon, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, City of Sydney, Sydney Opera House, NSW Trade and Investment and North Sydney Council.

“Every year Vivid Sydney brings something new, bigger and brighter to wow the hundreds of thousands of people who come to see the event. Vivid Sydney 2014 promises to be nothing short of amazing, with creative industries events, eclectic music performances and spectacular light displays that will transform Sydney’s harbour foreshore and surrounds,” Mr Stoner said.

“In 2013, over 800,000 people came to Vivid Sydney, which is owned and managed by Destination NSW, the Government’s Tourism and Major Events agency. The event contributed over $20million in new money to the NSW economy, and shone a spotlight on the State’s creative industries, establishing new connections and opportunities across the many areas of business that Vivid Sydney spans. 2014 is set to be even more successful.”

VIVID LIGHT

“This year for the first time, the harbour will join in like never before, with Harbour Lights – ferries and vessels decked out in LED lights, their colours computer-controlled by satellite navigation as they pass through the world’s most beautiful harbour. The new CBD precinct Martin Place will dazzle audiences with giant light installations, and new Vivid programming at Carriageworks, the Seymour Centre, Sydney University and The Basement will take the event and its music content, into more locations than ever before,” said Mr Stoner.

“Of course, the Lighting Of The Sails of the Sydney Opera House is one of the festival’s most anticipated highlights, which I am pleased to announce will be designed by the award-winning creative agency 59 Productions, renowned for their work on the London Olympic Games’ Opening Ceremony and the West-end show War Horse. The Sails are set for a stunning arrangement of 3D-mapped projections.

“The sandstone facades of Customs House and the MCA will once again be bathed in light through collaborations with local and international artists, and new light installations are set to utterly absorb every visitor, including for the first time, five works commissioned by Destination NSW.

“And after the huge success of last year, the Sydney Harbour Bridge will once again be lit by visitors with a stunning colour palette, making this a very special coat hanger indeed.

“Darling Harbour will be transformed by a spectacular water show with fountains, water jets and lasers as Aquatique, the French pioneers of dancing fountains, return again to Vivid – this year with a water show twice the size of last year, spanning two-thirds of the Bay.

“The foreshore running from East Circular Quay right around to Campbell’s Cove and Walsh Bay will become both a playground and a gallery, with over 50 new light installations, in a program full of both interactive installations and stunning works of art, curated by Vivid Light Festival Director Anthony Bastic,” Mr Stoner said.

VIVID MUSIC

With music events a favourite in the Vivid Sydney line up, Vivid Music is expanding in 2014 with an exciting line up of performances and talent as well as expanding into new venues, with new and bigger programs and more content to be announced in the coming weeks.

“The core of Vivid Music, Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House curated by Fergus Linehan, will see another fantastic line-up including Pixies, Giorgio Moroder, and Timeline, a special collaboration between the Australian Chamber Orchestra, led by Richard Tognetti and electro-pop duo The Presets – in which they present the history of music in two hours,’ Mr Stoner said.

“Expanding into Redfern, a new event has been created for Vivid Sydney this year – Modulations at Carriageworks (6-8 June). Modulations, curated by the extraordinary Steve Pavlovic, brings together the best talent across music, light installations, design and food. It will be headlined by multi-award winning electronic pop legends Pet Shop Boys – their performance a rare opportunity to experience a spectacular multi-media production in an intimate and immersive environment, and their only Australian performances of their 2013/14 Electric World Tour.”

VIVID IDEAS

Vivid Ideas features 15 signature events with 12 keynote talks from globally recognised designer and artist Candy Chang; media strategist and expert in unconventional marketing Ryan Holiday; Sara Critchfield, editorial director of Upworthy – the fastest growing media company of all time; global leader of the 4D printing movement Skylar Tibbits; and director Joshy D of REBEL8, one of the world’s most credible youth brands.

“With a strong role to play in showcasing our creative industries to the world, the Vivid Ideas program has also expanded. The Vivid Ideas Exchange on Level 6 of the MCA is once again at the heart of the program, this year featuring creative ideas, public talks, industry seminars, conferences, workshops and debates, structured around eight ‘content clusters’, spanning digital media and design to architecture, animation, fashion to filmmaking, and beyond,” said Mr Stoner.

Vivid Ideas is again collaborating with Mumbrella, SPARC, Good Design Festival, Semi-Permanent and Sydney Film Festival, and new events Modulations and Remix at Carriageworks. There are also programs with external partners including Sydney Living Museums, University of Sydney, Carriageworks, Seymour Centre and Powerhouse Museum.

“Over 18 days Vivid Sydney will this year offer everyone a unique and very special experience of Sydney in winter, showcasing the many creative talents not only from NSW but from around Australia and across the world,” Mr Stoner said.

Sandra Chipchase, the CEO of Destination NSW, said the event generates extraordinary interest which transforms the city not only for visitors, but for its hundreds of small businesses.

“Last year’s festival attendance was unprecedented, and it is testament to the popularity of Vivid Sydney and the significant marketing, promotion and travel packaging activity delivered by Destination NSW for this ‘only in Sydney’ event. In 2013 more than 11,000 visitors came from overseas travelling on Vivid travel packages. Aside from giving visitors a spectacular experience, Vivid Sydney is also fantastic news for the retail stores, restaurants and cafes that have fallen in love with the festival for the huge crowds it brings and the happy, joyful atmosphere created.”

Vivid Sydney Creative Director, Ignatius Jones, said, “Vivid Sydney continues to grow exponentially. Every year we are overwhelmed by the excitement that Vivid Sydney generates, and this year is really building on what’s come before. New precincts, new installations, new music, new ideas and new business all play a leading role in creating Vivid Sydney, and really give our city and everyone involved in Vivid a huge chance to shine. The spotlight is firmly placed on Sydney as the Creative Industry hub of Australia, and the Asia-Pacific region.”

Some of the highlights for Vivid Sydney 2014:

The full Vivid Sydney 2014 program is available at http://vividsydney.com

Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest annual celebration of light, music and ideas, is gearing up for another blockbuster year with two of the world’s leading creative industries events now secured for the upcoming festival, Sandra Chipchase, CEO of Destination NSW, announced today.

Vivid Sydney, which will be staged this year from 23 May to 9 June 2014, is Australia’s major winter festival and a signature event on the Sydney and NSW Events Calendar, and is owned and managed by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.

“Last year more than 800,000 Sydneysiders and visitors from around Australia and overseas flocked to Sydney’s harbour and surrounds over 18 days and nights to experience Vivid Sydney’s world-class program of lighting art installations and projections (Vivid Light), music (Vivid Music) and creative ideas and events (Vivid Ideas),” Ms Chipchase said.

“With growing demand for the Vivid Ideas program, we are delighted that two world-class events, Semi-Permanent and The Good Design Festival, will now feature in the 2014 Vivid Ideas program, bringing global leaders in design, art and media to Sydney to participate in and experience a range of creative industry conferences, exhibitions and networking events.”

Both Semi-Permanent and The Good Design Festival are supported through funding by the NSW Government through Destination NSW. Semi-Permanent will take place exclusively as part of Vivid Sydney, meaning the only chance creative practitioners will have to experience this event in Australia will be at Carriageworks from 22 to 24 May.

The Good Design Festival which is one of the only forums for professional designers and manufacturers to showcase their design expertise to a national and international audience, will take place from 23 May to 9 June and feature the prestigious Good Design Awards Gala Night, formerly the Australian International Design Awards.

Vivid Sydney’s Creative Director, Ignatius Jones, said, “These two events and the Vivid Ideas program, which fall within the Vivid Sydney festival, reinforce Sydney’s position as the creative hub of the Asia-Pacific region, with this year’s program sure to attract even more international creative industry leaders and professionals to NSW during winter.

“Vivid Sydney is a major international player in the creative industries events calendar, and we are looking forward to welcoming returning visitors and those experiencing Vivid Sydney and Vivid Ideas for the first time to the festival and to NSW.”

Ms Chipchase said the 2013 Vivid Ideas program featured more than 180 events with over 50,000 tickets sold.

“The Vivid Ideas program during Vivid Sydney is a unique platform for global creative industries to come together in a striking harbourside city to network, share ideas and do business,” she said.

The renowned Sydney Film Festival will continue as part of the Vivid Sydney program for at least the next two years following new funding by the NSW Government, Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris, announced today.

Although the NSW Government has supported the official competition for the past six years, this year the Sydney Film Festival was, for the first time, a key part of the Vivid Sydney festival program, with the Official Competition and Festival Hub at Town Hall forming the backbone of the strategic partnership with Vivid Sydney,” Mr Souris said.

“The Sydney Film Festival is Australia’s longest running film festival and the only one in the country with an internationally endorsed Official Film Competition, firmly positioning NSW as Australia’s creative capital.

“I am delighted the NSW Government, through our tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, is supporting this key cultural event on the NSW Events Calendar for an additional two years, from 2014-2015”.

Mr Souris said Destination NSW estimates that over that period, the Sydney Film Festival will attract more than 4,000 overseas and domestic visitors while organisers expect 140,000 people to attend next year’s 12-day Festival.

“In 2014 and 2015, the Sydney Film Festival will continue to deliver the ‘Sydney Film Festival presents…’ talks series as part of the signature Vivid Ideas program, which attracts leading international film makers and experts to NSW to speak about the latest trends in international filmmaking.

“This Partnership brings together two of the most creatively inspired events in Sydney and will help attract more commercial interest and investment in Sydney and NSW.”

Sydney Film Festival Director, Nashen Moodley, said: “Sydney Film Festival’s ever-expanding partnership with the NSW Government, Destination NSW and their Vivid Sydney event brings one of the city’s oldest and one of its newest events together in winter.

“The international significance and reach of both festivals continues to grow, attracting some of the world’s leading creative and filmmaking exponents as participants. Sydney now has more reasons than ever to look forward to winter each year.”

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner and Minister for Tourism and Major Events George Souris today celebrated and recognised the creative services industry as Vivid Sydney received two major awards at the Australian Event Awards in Sydney last night.

In addition to being named the country’s Best Tourism Event and the Australian Event of the Year, Vivid added to NSW’s success as the overall Best Event State.

“Vivid Sydney, owned and managed by Destination NSW, is a great representation of the creative services industry in Australia, which is showcased during what is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, and which this year attracted record audiences of over 800,000 people,” Mr Stoner said.

“Over 18 days, visitors immersed themselves in Sydney and in the creative talents of artists, performers, innovators, entrepreneurs and experts as the Vivid Sydney festival transformed the harbour city.

“This year was the biggest Vivid Sydney ever, with an expanded Vivid Light footprint which took in new precincts in North Sydney with the first ever lighting of the western side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the spectacular water theatre of Aquatique in Darling Harbour.

“Vivid Sydney also enjoyed an expanded music program both with Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House, opening with legendary Kraftwerk, but also Vivid Music, with new music programing at the Overseas Passenger Terminal and the Seymour Centre.

“Vivid Ideas, where the creative industries intersect with business to create real opportunities, expanded to over 180 events, and sold over 6,000 tickets.

“Vivid Sydney not only makes an important contribution and provides a platform to showcase our creative industries, but generates an important economic contribution, with in excess of $10 million delivered to the NSW economy this year.

“I am very pleased to see Vivid Sydney recognised as the Australian Event of the Year, and would encourage anyone who hasn’t experienced Vivid yet, to mark the date for Vivid 2014 in their diary – May 23 to June 9.”

Mr Souris said Vivid Sydney was enjoyed not only by Sydneysiders, but by visitors from interstate, intrastate and overseas, who came to experience the city like they had never seen it before.

“Vivid Sydney is an important boon for visitation to NSW. In 2013 the number of domestic and international packages grew, in particular from China with 7,200 packages sold. It is an event that translates across countries and cultures,” Mr Souris said.

“Vivid is also now an event that is seeing more and more visitors staying in Sydney for one or two nights – it is a fitting, and very deserving, winner of the Best Tourism Event category.”

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said it was a wonderful honour and achievement for the event to be named the Australian Event of the Year.

“Our thanks go to our sponsors, partners and festival directors, creative advisor Ignatius Jones and the NSW Government agencies across the city who have supported us to create an event which has captured the attention and interest of people across the world.”

The Australian Event Awards is the pinnacle awards program for the events industry in Australia.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner has called for expressions of interest from the world’s leading creative industry thought leaders, businesses and practitioners to take part in next year’s Vivid Ideas, the industry and business events pillar of Vivid Sydney.

Vivid Sydney is the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest annual celebration of light, music and ideas. Vivid Sydney next takes place from 23 May to 9 June 2014.

Vivid Ideas offers a program of creative industry talks, conferences, workshops, panels, showcases, exhibitions, creative product launches, award presentations, and social and networking functions.

“Vivid Sydney is a must-attend event on the international creative calendar,” Mr Stoner said.

“It is renowned the world over as a key platform for members of the creative industries from both Australia and across the globe to collaborate, foster business connections and showcase new ideas.

“In 2013, more than 800,000 people attended Vivid Sydney across the 18 days of the festival. The Vivid Ideas program showcased 122 unique events across 25 Sydney venues, including The Vivid Ideas Exchange at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, and a wealth of creative local and international talent.

“Vivid Ideas provides an excellent opportunity for creative industries practitioners and businesses to align with this globally recognised event, right here in Sydney, the creative hub of the Asia-Pacific.”

Vivid Sydney Creative Director, Ignatius Jones, said Vivid Sydney is about turning inspiration into action and attracts the world’s best creative practitioners in the fields of design, lighting, architecture, music, fashion, film, visual arts, advertising and more.

“In 2013, Vivid Sydney cemented its position as the leading creative industries event in the Southern Hemisphere, with more than 6,000 people attending Vivid Ideas across its signature program and associated events,” Mr Jones said.

“Vivid Sydney is growing every year – in reputation, size and appeal – and 2014 will be the year for the creative industries to really engage with Vivid Ideas.

“There are many ways to get involved in Vivid Ideas, from developing a forum or workshop and hosting a networking function to launching your latest innovation or running a think tank or debate session.

“So far, more than 1300 creative industry practitioners across the world have registered interest in submitting designs for Vivid Light, the centrepiece of the Vivid Sydney festival, which closes on Friday 4 October. We’re expecting a similar high level of interest in the Vivid Ideas program, with more opportunities to participate than ever before.”

Expressions of Interest to participate in Vivid Ideas 2014 will close on 4 November 2013. The Vivid Ideas Expression of Interest form is available via www.vividsydney.com.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade & Investment Andrew Stoner today announced Vivid Sydney 2013 an unprecedented success, with preliminary estimates showing record attendance of more than 800,000 people across the 18-day event.

Visitors flocked to the biggest Vivid Sydney ever, which included the largest Vivid Light Walk expanding into North Sydney with the lighting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Darling Harbour showcasing Australia’s first spectacular water show performances.

The Vivid Music program also expanded into new venues and Vivid Ideas featured more than 180 events with over 6,000 tickets sold. Over 40,000 tickets were sold for Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House.

Mr Stoner said, this year, Vivid Sydney achieved record results for NSW, with crowds significantly larger than last year.

“Vivid also reached audiences in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide through extensive media coverage. I am confident Vivid Sydney will have delivered this year well in excess of the estimated $10 million in economic impact,” Mr Stoner said.

“Vivid has huge appeal and has been successful in attracting visitors not only from this state and across Australia – where domestic travel packages were up 8% – but also internationally, with over 11,000 travel packages sold, including 7,200 from China.

“Bringing so many visitors into Sydney for this festival also delivered terrific results for local retailers who all embraced Vivid. Some of the waterfront restaurants at The Rocks saw a 300% increase in diners, with reports of their capacity last seen during the Olympics. Many Darling Harbour restaurants also experienced similar growth.”

The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest annual festival of light, music and ideas is a signature event in the NSW Events Calendar, owned and managed by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said the most successful Vivid Sydney yet was great testimony to the way the festival has been embraced by Sydneysiders and visitors alike, and the creative services industry.

“So much enthusiasm and passion is invested in making Vivid Sydney a wonderful winter event by not only the creative practitioners involved in the festival itself, but the hundreds of thousands of people who attended. To be able to hold an event which attracts so many visitors, not only domestically but also from all over the world is very special, and of course is an important contributor to the goal of doubling overnight expenditure by 2020. During Vivid Sydney we hosted 76 media and 284 international travel buyers,” Ms Chipchase said.

“There has been excellent collaboration with key partners and sponsors as well as hundreds of local  businesses and communities to make Vivid Sydney a success, and something that is looked forward to every year. It’s a hallmark event for Sydney and Australia, and is also increasing its fan base”

Vivid Sydney also saw success digitally, with almost 40,000 downloads of the free Vivid Sydney application, more than 1 million people who visited the vividsydney.com website from May 1, a 200% growth in Vivid Sydney Facebook fans and a huge 2,800% growth of Vivid Ideas Facebook fans.

Vivid Sydney 2013 Highlights

Stepping into the history books with Sydney Harbour Bridge: The western façade was lit for the first time by Vivid Sydney partner Intel Australia and 32 Hundred Lighting, with North Sydney Council. It captured the imagination of everyone and even supported the NSW Blues ahead of the first State of Origin Game when Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, turned the bridge blue with NSW State of Origin vice-captain Robbie Farah.

Extending into Darling Harbour for the first time: More than 200,000 people enjoyed the dancing water fountains and dazzling light and water shows. The show was created especially for Vivid by French artists Aquatique Show International, and staged in collaboration with Destination NSW, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and the Darling Harbour Alliance. The event was supported by Citibank, which hosted customers at its Pop-Up Bar.

The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the world’s most iconic space traveller, ‘Doctor Who’: Legions of costumed fans attend the one night only 3D-mapped projections on the façade of Customs House on Saturday 1 June. The projections, created by Sydney’s own The Spinifex Group, saw ‘Doctor Who’ travel through space and time, pursued by some of his greatest enemies. The Spinifex Group also created the projections on the Sydney Opera House called ‘Play’, and ‘Collaboration #3′ with renowned artist Gemma Smith at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.

Vivid Ideas cemented its position as a champion of Sydney and Australia’s creative industries: It showcased Sydney as the place to collaborate, foster business connections and showcase new ideas – Headquartered on the sixth floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia with events at more than 25 venues across Sydney, Vivid Ideas grew in 2013 from 100 to 122 unique events and boasted a wealth of creative local and international talent including keynote talks by UK artist and Turner Prize nominee, David Shrigley; IDEO’s chief creative officer Paul Bennett; street wear entrepreneur Johnny Cupcakes and big data artist Jonathan Harris.

More than 6,000 people attended 18 days of talks, workshops, panels and meet-ups at The Vivid Ideas Exchange with thousands more attending key creative industry events as part of Vivid Ideas including Semi-Permanent, AMPlify, Australian International Design Festival, Reportage Photography Festival, ISEA 2013, SPARC International Lighting Event, Mumbrella360, X|Media|Lab and more.

Over 40,000 tickets were sold to the 10-day music celebration Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House: Audiences were attracted by a stellar line-up that included the world premiere of ‘Empire of the Sun’’s highly anticipated second album, ‘Ice on the Dune‘, in addition to the eight sell-out ‘Kraftwerk‘ retrospective 3D shows, ‘The Catalogue: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8’, and the Australian debut of R’n’B soul legend Bobby Womack.

Vivid Music, a new addition to Vivid Sydney sold more than 5,400 tickets: A program that featured leading-edge electronic dance and house music at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, a two-day program of innovative and experimental music at the Seymour Centre, dance music at The Argyle and the sold out performance of ‘Datamatics 2.0′ by Japanese artist Ryoji Ikdea at Carriageworks for ISEA 2013.

2,000 people danced in front of Customs House to ‘Move your Building‘: While thousands watched wild horses run across buildings and engines rev out of walls at the Audi installation ‘Speed of Light‘, the Spinifex Group transformed the historic façade of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company building into a feast of light, colour and speed. Creative light sculptures and installations were selected from around the world, including artists from Germany, England, Italy, France, USA, Korea, Malaysia and New Zealand. Australian light artists featured from Sydney, Queensland, Victoria and regional NSW including Nowra, Wagga Wagga and Tuggerah.

Vivid Sydney’s Illuminating Quick Facts

• Over 800,000 cumulative attendees
• More than 200,000 attendees to Darling Harbour
• Media coverage in over 200 countries
• Over 40,000 tickets sold for Vivid LIVE
• More than 6,000 people attended Vivid Ideas
• Over 5,400 tickets sold for Vivid Music
• 11,304 international packages sold*
• 7,200 of these international packages from China*
• 8% increase of domestic package sales*
• 284 international trade familiarisation visitors (205% increase on last year)
• 40,000 people downloaded the Vivid app
• More than 1 million visitors to www.vividsydney.com
• 200% growth on Vivid Sydney Facebook page
• 2,800% growth on Vivid Ideas Facebook page

*package sales over the Vivid period generated via JTG