1 Week Until Sydney Goes Vivid

In just seven days Sydney will sparkle, shimmer and shine as the sails of the Opera House are splashed with colour and the Harbour foreshore and surrounds crisscrossed with 3D-mapped projections for the sixth year of the winter festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney.

Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner said Vivid Sydney, the winner of the Australian Event of the Year, had last year enthralled more than 800,000 visitors, contributing more than $20 million in new money to the NSW economy.

Vivid Sydney gets bigger and brighter every year, and 2014 is no different with a spectacular program of lights, music and ideas that is sure to please the crowds,” Mr Stoner said.

“This year’s Vivid Light Walk boasts over 50 new light installations, and magic water theatre will once again transform Darling Harbour, with giant fountains, four major water screens, lasers, projections and pyrotechnics from the French master fontaneers, Aquatique, whose Vivid show is twice the size of last year’s and is designed as a theatre in the round,” Mr Stoner said.

“Perhaps the most exciting development for Vivid Sydney 2014 is in the area of building projection, with three international and five Australian digital content houses, working with our three main projection technology companies, the Electric Canvas, TDC and NovaTek, on eight major lighting projects. “

“In another Vivid Sydney first, the light and laser installation, Filament Storm, will play out on the façades of five Circular Quay skyscrapers, and feature six high powered 10-watt lasers, plus the latest in giant theatrical lights from the world’s largest lighting company, the Production Resource Group,” he said.

“These lights, known as the Best Boy and the Bad Boy, are less than a metre tall, weigh as much as a person and can light an entire skyscraper with a single instrument.”

Produced by Sketch Evolution, with major partners PRG, Oracle, and Laser Tri-Point Rigging, Filament Storm will tower over the Light Walk and help tie the Harbour to the CBD lighting spectacular in Martin Place which is yet to be fully revealed.

The sails of the Sydney Opera House will come alive with spectacular 3D-mapped projections by English company 59 Productions and French projection gurus, Danny Rose, are turning Customs House into a sequence of amazing interactive musical instruments.

Sydney’s visual content masters Spinifex Group, whose credits include two Olympic Games and a World Expo, are working with Australian artist Jess Johnson to transform the original façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art, while up-and-coming multimedia artists, The Digital Shamans in collaboration with another Australian artist, Ross Manning, will turn the new façade into an interactive piece of musical meditation.

Other new projections include; German artist Heinz Caspar, is painting Cadman’s Cottage with the changing seasons and; the multi-award-winning The Electric Canvas are projecting on the façade of The Star for the first time.

Sandra Chipchase, Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer said: “Last year 800,000 festival-goers including 11,000 international tourists who came on Vivid Sydney travel packages came to experience Vivid Sydney and marvel at our city in lights and snapped up over 51,000 tickets for an impressive program of concerts, conferences, creative product launches and exhibitions at Vivid Ideas and Vivid Music (including Vivid Live).”

“This year, visitors can expect an even bigger and better Vivid Sydney experience, with exciting new light installations, an expanded line up of contemporary and cutting edge music, and world renowned creative industries events – it is simply a must attend event so don’t miss out ,” she said.

VIVID LIGHT

Martin Place will hit the lights for the first time this year, featuring new installations with a number of impressive technical innovations, transforming the bustling thoroughfare into a gallery of light like no other. Darling Harbour will again sparkle brightly with water shows spanning two thirds of the bay, doubling 2013’s Harbour spectacular. French company, Aquatique’s, water show draws upon water jets, fountains and laser displays to paint a creative canvas of beauty and movement on the water.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be the largest and most spectacular coat-hanger on earth, and the water below will sparkle with Harbour Lights, as vessels and ferries light up to join in the fun. Sandstone will shine like never before at Customs House and the MCA, and over 50 light installations will enthral along the Vivid Light Walk.

VIVID MUSIC

A favourite feature during Vivid Sydney, music fans will again be spoilt for choice with an expanded Vivid Music line-up in even more venues around the city. Including, the Sydney Opera House (with Vivid LIVE), Seymour Centre, The Basement, Spice Cellar, Home Night Club, The Argyle, and the brand new event Modulations at Carriageworks (6-9 June), curated by Stephen Pavlovic.

Across its venues, Vivid Music including Vivid LIVE will feature performances from a wide range of artists including Pixies, Ms Lauryn Hill, Pet Shop Boys, The Liars, Hot Chip, The Luis And The Wildfires, ACO and The Presets, Nicky Siano, Laneous & The Family Yah, The Big Village, Giorgio Moroder, James Vincent McMorrow, Goodgod Small Club, Penny Penny, St. Vincent and Anna Calvi.

VIVID IDEAS

Sydney’s annual celebration of innovation, creativity and community, Vivid Ideas, includes a world renowned program of conferences, workshops, panels, talks, showcases, exhibitions, creative product launches, award presentations and networking functions. Vivid Ideas has quickly become a globally recognised platform for the best and brightest creative minds from Australia and overseas to connect, collaborate and create, and this year’s Vivid Ideas will include 300 speakers at over 180 events showcasing the best creative talent in the market.

Fans of Vivid Sydney looking to attend the 18 day festival are encouraged to leave the car at home and travel via public transport as road closures and special event clearways will be in place.

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

30 Days Until Vivid Sydney 2014 Lights Up The Dark Winter Nights

The one-month countdown has begun, with only 30 days to go before the Lighting of the Sails marks the opening of Sydney’s spectacular winter festival, Vivid Sydney. Australian Event of the Year in 2013, this year’s Vivid is set to astound audiences once again, with the largest program of light, music and ideas the Harbour City has ever seen.

“In just under a month, the sails of the Opera House will be splashed with colour, and the harbour foreshore and surrounds crisscrossed with breathtaking 3D-mapped projections for this signature event in the NSW Events Calendar,” said Sandra Chipchase, Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer.

“In 2013 hundreds of thousands of festivalgoers from here and overseas flocked to Sydney for the award winning Vivid Sydney, marvelling at our city in lights and snapping up over 51,000 tickets for an impressive program which included concerts, creative product launches, conferences and exhibitions.”

“This year’s Vivid program will be even more impressive, with exciting new light installations, an expanded line up of contemporary and cutting edge music, and world renowned creative industries events celebrating innovation, creativity and community,” she said.

Owned and managed by Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney enthralled more than 800,000 visitors in 2013, generating more than $20 million in new money to the NSW economy. With even more lighting installations in new locations, an expanded musical line-up and 300 speakers at 200 creative events, this year’s Vivid will be by far, the biggest in the festival’s six year history.

VIVID LIGHT

Martin Place will hit the lights for the first time this year, featuring new installations with a number of impressive technical innovations, transforming the bustling thoroughfare into a gallery of light like no other. Darling Harbour will again sparkle brightly with water shows spanning two thirds of Cockle Bay, doubling the size of the 2013 Harbour spectacular. French company, Aquatique’s, water show draws upon water jets, fountains and laser displays to paint a creative canvas of beauty and movement on the water.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be the largest and most spectacular ‘coat-hanger’ on earth, and the water below will sparkle with Harbour Lights, as vessels and ferries light up to join in the fun. Sandstone will shine like never before on the facades of Customs House and the MCA, and more than 50 light installations will enthral along the Vivid Light Walk.

VIVID MUSIC

A favourite feature during Vivid Sydney, music fans will again be spoilt for choice with an expanded Vivid Music line-up in even more venues around the city including the Sydney Opera House (with Vivid Live), Seymour Centre, The Basement, Spice Cellar, Home Night Club, The Argyle, as well as the  brand new event Modulations at Carriageworks (6-9 June), curated by Stephen Pavlovic.

Across it’s venues, Vivid Music including Vivid LIVE will feature performances from a wide range of artists including ACO and The Presets, Anna Calvi, Giorgio Moroder, Halfway Crooks, Hot Chip, James Vincent McMorrow, Laneous & The Family Yah, Ms Lauryn Hill, Ngariie, Penny Penny, Pet Shop Boys, Pixies, The Big Village, The Liars, The Luis and The Wildfires and St. Vincent.

VIVID IDEAS

Sydney’s annual celebration of innovation, creativity and community, Vivid Ideas, includes a world renowned program of conferences, workshops, panels, talks, showcases, exhibitions, creative product launches, award presentations and networking functions. Vivid Ideas has quickly become a globally recognised platform for the best and brightest creative minds from Australia and overseas to connect, collaborate and create, and this year’s Vivid Ideas will include 15 signature events and 12 keynote talks showcasing the best creative talent in the market.

Vivid Sydney’s Creative Director, Ignatius Jones says, “Each year the excitement and enthusiasm generated by Vivid Sydney drives us to reach new heights and explore new creative avenues, and developing Vivid Sydney 2014 has been no different. With new precincts, installations, buildings and ideas, this year’s Vivid will be by far the biggest I have been involved in and I cannot wait to see the Harbour City up in lights.”

Fans of Vivid Sydney looking to attend the 18 day festival are encouraged to travel via public transport to avoid congestion on the road.

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

 

Unannounced: Two Sydney Harbour Bridge Light Shows For Vivid Sydney 2014 & More!

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.

Artist Impression By The Electric Canvas
Artist Impression By The Electric Canvas

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.

MIDLAKE  Photograph: Vivid Sydney 2014
MIDLAKE
Photograph: Vivid Sydney 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.

James Vincent McMorrow Photograph: Vivid LIVE
James Vincent McMorrow
Photograph: Vivid LIVE 2014

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.

Photograph: Vivid Sydney 2014
Photograph: Vivid Sydney 2014

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.

'God Help The Girl' Photograph: Vivid Sydney 2014
‘God Help The Girl’
Photograph: Vivid Sydney 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.

'Collarbones' Image courtesy of 'Collarbones'
‘Collarbones’
Image courtesy of ‘Collarbones’
  • 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.

Image: Vivid Sydney 2014
Image: Vivid Sydney 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 Sydney Opera House Tour - Celebrating VIVID LIVE Photograph: Vivid LIVE
The Sydney Opera House Tour – Celebrating VIVID LIVE
Photograph: Vivid LIVE 2014

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.

Photograph: Vivid Ideas 2014
Photograph: Vivid Ideas 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.

'Blog Society; The Retreat'  Image: Vivid Ideas 2014.
‘Blog Society: The Retreat’
Image: Vivid Ideas 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.

Photograph: Vivid Ideas 2014
Photograph: Vivid Ideas 2014

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.

Photograph: Vivid ideas 2014
Photograph: Vivid Ideas 2014

Cinecity: Making

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

Photograph: Vivid Ideas 2014
Photograph: Vivid Ideas 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.

Image: Vivid Ideas 2014
Image: Vivid Ideas 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 Sydney’ Draws Record Crowds

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 HouseAudiences 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