Tag: 2014

A Bigger, Brighter ‘Vivid Sydney’ For 2014

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:

Where What When
Sydney Opera House Lighting Of The Sails by 59 Productions: see The Sails like never before with unforgettable 3D mapped projections Nightly from 6pm
Customs House  Play Me by Danny Rose: turning the façade of this great building into a sequence of giant fantasy musical instruments Nightly from 6pm
MCA (sandstone original building) Light projects where art meets light by Jess Johnson and Spinifex Nightly from 6pm
MCA (new building) A collaboration like no other where interactive light meets incredible 3D projections by The Digital Shamans and MCA artist Ross Manning Nightly from 6pm
Sydney Harbour and North Sydney Boats lit up, floating on the Harbour in a symphony of colour and the largest coat hanger in the world transformed into a beautiful palate of colours Nightly from 6pm
Darling Harbour Water jets, lasers, 3D projections on water screens – Aquatique transforms the Bay into a symphony of water, all set to music Nightly, on the hour from 6pm (last show 11pm)
Martin Place Map your face onto a 3D, 1.6m head with eΙMERGEnce Nightly from 6pm
Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House Pixies rock it out in their only Australian performances 23-26 May
Vivid Music and Modulations at Carriageworks Pet Shop Boys – Electronic music artists extraordinaire – play three intimate gigs in this fantastic inner west venue 6-8 June
The Vivid Ideas Exchange on Level 6 of the MCA Hear from one of the world’s most credible youth brands and the business brain and global art icon behind it – Joshy D and Mike Giant from Rebel8 28 May

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

‘Vivid Sydney’ Secures World’s Best Creative Industries Events

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.

Sydney Film Festival Has A ‘Vivid’ Future In NSW

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.”

Global Creative Industry Leaders And Practitioners Invited To Take Part In ‘Vivid Ideas’ 2014

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.