Category: Vivid Sydney

* BALLOT FOR TICKETS *

4 NIGHTS ONLY, VIVID SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE

“The most exquisite thing you will hear in your life” – Laurie Anderson (The Times, UK)

Vivid Sydney and the Sydney Opera House today announced that one of music’s singular innovators – the towering, ever-transforming Anohni (known previously to audiences as Antony Hegarty of Antony & The Johnsons) – will debut her latest work in 4 exclusive Vivid LIVE performances at the Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas.

Incorporating a series of immersive, sense-shifting moments, the show promises to be the transgender artist’s most ambitious and personal yet. Due to the expected high demand, tickets to Anohni’s Sydney-exclusive Vivid LIVE concerts on 27, 28, 30 & 31 May 2016 will be allocated by ballot.

Following sold-out ballots for Morrissey (2015) and Kraftwerk’s 3D Catalogue retrospective (2013), Anohni’s 4 Sydney-only Vivid LIVE performances will feature her 5th album and solo debut as Anohni, ‘Hopelessness’, which raises the dramatic power of Antony & The Johnsons to new electronic heights.

American electronic artist and producer Oneohtrix Point Never (who, along with Hudson Mohawke, collaborated on the new album) & Gaël Rakotondrabe (pianist from Antony & The Johnsons) will join Anohni on the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage in this exclusive Australian premiere.

The shows also mark Anohni’s return to the city that has embraced her from the start, from her 2003 visits supporting Lou Reed & 2005 Opera House performances (when the singer stole the all-star Leonard Cohen tribute show, Came So Far For Beauty) to 2010’s memorable Antony & The Johnsons Concert Hall appearance.

Destination New South Wales (NSW) Chief Executive Officer & Executive Producer of Vivid Sydney, Sandra Chipchase, said “Vivid Sydney’s cutting-edge contemporary music program brings the most outstanding local and international artists to Sydney & today’s announcement of Anohni at Vivid LIVE is the first of what’s set to be a stellar line-up for the festival in 2016.”

Revered for her inimitable vibrato & classic cinematic sonics on ‘Hopelessness’, the Mercury Music Prize-winner Anohni combines the symphonic, heavyweight beats of Hudson Mohawke (TNGHT, Kanye West) with Warp’s Oneohtrix Point Never to room-shuddering effect. Enigmatic Anohni is a 2016 Academy Award Best Original Song nominee. ‘Hopelessness’ has drawn comparisons to Radiohead’s classic Kid A as both a musical evolution & call-to-arms: the album’s world-warning single ‘4 Degrees‘ was released to coincide with the COP24 climate-change talks in Paris.

Vivid LIVE, now in its 8th year, will be the 2nd curated by Ben Marshall, the Sydney Opera House’s Head Of Contemporary Music. Recently named the 2015 FBi SMAC Of The Year, Marshall has brought the likes of Morrissey, Sufjan Stevens & TV On The Radio to the stages of the World Heritage-listed building.

Ben Marshall, Curator, Vivid LIVE, said “Anohni is one of the most talented & powerful contemporary artists working today. She is a transformative artist for this transformative festival. Her fluid, visionary, heart-rending and dare I say it, subversively pop mediation, on the tipping points of gender, sexuality, identity & humanity will stay with you forever after these performances. We are genuinely honoured she has chosen Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House to unveil her most ambitious, compelling & perhaps accessible piece yet.”

The full program for Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House will be announced during the Vivid Sydney program launch next month.

vividsydney.com/sydneyoperahouse.com/vividLIVE

SEASON DETAILS

• WHAT: Anohni (Antony & The Johnsons + Oneohtrix Point Never)
• WHEN: Friday May 27 – Tuesday 31 May 2016
• WHERE: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
• TICKETS: From $79 + booking fee

IMPORTANT TICKETING INFORMATION

The Sydney Opera House expects high demand for tickets for the Anohni (Antony & The Johnsons + Oneohtrix Point Never) series of concerts exclusive to Sydney based on previous touring success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance to purchase tickets, the Sydney Opera House has put in place an online application process. This will minimise the congestion through sales channels & distribute tickets to fans across time zones, states & countries.

Apply for your tickets anytime between Monday 29 February 2016 (10am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)) & Friday 4 March 2016 (5pm AEDT). Tickets will not be allocated on a 1st-come, 1st-served basis; all applications received during this period will be equally considered. To apply, go to http://vividlive.sydneyoperahouse.com/.

APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED OVER THE PHONE OR IN PERSON.

ABOUT VIVID LIVE AT VIVID SYDNEY

From 27 May–13 June, the Sydney Opera House will welcome some of the most ambitious & innovative local and international artists for Vivid LIVE – a celebration of music on the nation’s most famous stages – held as part of Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas.

Vivid LIVE invites the world’s leading music artists & performers to raise the roof of the Sydney Opera House’s theatres, rehearsal spaces, recording studios & most famously, it’s iconic sails, which are transformed into a unique lighting canvas each year for Vivid Sydney.

Now in its 8th year, 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); & creative ideas, discussion and debate (Vivid Ideas), celebrating Sydney as the creative hub of the Asia-Pacific region.

Vivid Sydney is owned, managed & produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism & major events agency, & runs from 27 May to 18 June 2016. For more information, visit www.vividsydney.com.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

For the 1st time ever, Vivid Sydney is lighting up Taronga Zoo with a trail of spectacular installations including giant, luminous animal sculptures.

Minister For Trade, Tourism & Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said Sydney’s world famous zoo is turning 100 & Vivid Sydney is joining the celebrations bringing its wondrous light, creativity & innovation to the iconic attraction for a special after hours event.

“Visitors to Vivid Sydney at Taronga Zoo will be welcomed by a grand projection onto the façade of the heritage-listed main entrance building which leads into a journey filled with thousands of lanterns including 10 magnificent, larger-than-life animal sculptures illuminated to shine a light on the 10 critical species Taronga has committed to protecting,” Mr Ayres said.

“The captivating creatures ranging from the vividly coloured Corroboree Frog to the grand Asian Elephant will sparkle & feature interactive lighting, sound effects and moving parts. They will be among the largest and most technologically advanced lanterns featured in the festival, showcasing the innovation Vivid is known for.”

Minister For The Environment, Mark Speakman, said New South Wales (NSW) school students would play an important role in bringing the festival to life at Taronga Zoo.

“As part of the centenary celebrations, NSW primary school students participating in Taronga’s education program are invited to construct their own mini-lanterns of the 10 critical species which will feature at Vivid Sydney,” Mr Speakman said.

“The program aims to engage students with the valuable conservation work of Taronga while inspiring creativity & getting students involved in Vivid Sydney at Taronga Zoo with their lanterns to be displayed at the festival.”

Vivid Sydney is the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas & is owned, managed and produced by the NSW Government’s tourism & major events agency, Destination NSW. It attracted a record-breaking 1.7 million attendees in 2015.

Vivid Sydney runs from Friday the 27th of May to Monday the 13th of June 2016.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

Destination NSW has been awarded for its marketing & promotion of Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas, receiving 7 accolades at the 2015 International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) Pinnacle Awards.

Destination NSW was presented with 7 IFEA Pinnacle Awards for Vivid Sydney:

• Grand Pinnacle – Silver
• Best Social Media Site – Gold
• Best Newspaper Insert/Supplement – Gold
• Best Event Promotional Photograph – Gold
• Best Event Website – Silver
• Best Outdoor Billboard – Silver
• Best Press/Media Kit – Silver

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism & Major Events, Stuart Ayres, congratulated Destination NSW & said the accolades reflect the exceptional work of the state’s tourism & major events agency in promoting Vivid Sydney to the world.

“Vivid Sydney is firmly established as 1 of the world’s leading festivals & continues to break records, attracting an incredible 1.7 million attendees this year.”

“Destination NSW has done a great job in turning the event into a global spectacle & these awards are well deserved” Mr Ayres said.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase, said “Vivid Sydney is a highlight of the New South Wales (NSW) Major Events Calendar, showcasing light, music & ideas all around our harbour city. These awards are a testament to the hard work of the Destination NSW team in creating, curating & promoting the event, with the support of the NSW Government & its agencies”

Presented by the IFEA, the Pinnacle Awards recognises the outstanding accomplishments & high quality creative, promotional, operational and community outreach programs and materials produced by festivals & events around the world.

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

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney today announced that the creative vision of Western Sydney artist Huseyin Sami will illuminate the heritage-listed façade of the Museum Of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA), when the world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas returns in 2016.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism & Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said “Vivid Sydney is a remarkable opportunity for artists to create on a grand scale & it doesn’t get much grander than seeing your work projected onto 1 of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks. It’s exciting to see Huseyin Sami, an acclaimed artist from Western Sydney, given this opportunity & I look forward to the big reveal of his projection art next year.”

Each year, an Australian artist represented in the MCA collection or exhibition program, is chosen to work in collaboration with projection content creators to create the amazing 3D-mapped projections that adorn the MCA façade during Vivid Sydney.

Huseyin Sami is a former exhibitor in MCA’s annual Primavera exhibition, highlighting the work of young Australian artists. His work explores the material qualities of paint, crossing over the categories of painting, sculpture & installation. He has exhibited extensively both nationally & internationally.

MCA Director, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE, said “We are delighted that the involvement of artists in the creation of the work for the MCA façade for Vivid Sydney will continue with the commissioning of Huseyin Sami, one of a generation of younger artists working with materials such as paint in exciting new ways. We look forward to seeing how his vision comes to fruition on our façade.”

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase, added that there is still time for projection content creators to submit expressions of interest for the MCA original façade, with the deadline extended to midnight AEDT, 7 October 2015.

Vivid Sydney is managed by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW & returns from 27 May to 13 June 2016.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is being celebrated as one of the world’s greatest contemporary arts festivals at this year’s Very Fun Park festival in Taiwan.

Presented by the Fubon Art Foundation, Very Fun Park is held in Tapei each year and promotes a museum without walls approach to art. In the festival’s 10th anniversary year, Vivid Sydney is one of ten international festivals with a similar artistic ethos being showcased.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said he was delighted Vivid Sydney is being showcased at this international event.

“Vivid Sydney is firmly established as one of the world’s most renowned festivals and its’ involvement in Very Fun Park reinforces our state’s reputation as the creative industries capital on a global stage” Mr Ayres said.

Vibrant images of the spectacular artworks that transform Sydney into an outdoor gallery of extraordinary lighting projections and sculptures during Vivid Sydney each winter will be on show.

Vivid Sydney is the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, attracting a record 1.7 million attendees in 2015. Owned and managed by the New South Wales Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, the festival is now Australia’s largest event, welcoming visitors from across the globe.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase, said Vivid Sydney’s inclusion in Very Fun Park will give audiences a taste of the festival and encourage people to visit Vivid Sydney in future years, to experience the event for themselves.

“We’re delighted to showcase our spectacular Vivid Sydney festival at Very Fun Park and thank the Fubon Art Foundation for their invitation. There’s nothing like seeing Vivid Sydney transform our harbour city with its colourful creativity and I encourage everyone to join us in Sydney next year when the festival returns from 27 May to 13 June 2016” Ms Chipchase said.

The Vivid Sydney showcase is located in the Songshan Cultural And Creative Park, Taiwan Design Museum – Golden Pin Design Area, and is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 9:30am and 5:30pm until 20 September 2015.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

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