Sydney Lunar Festival honours the Lunar New Year, with the 2023 festival celebrating the Year of the Rabbit.

The following opportunities for artists, creatives and producers are currently available.

Chinatown lanterns

We’re seeking concept designs for lanterns as part of the Chinatown lanterns exhibition in Dixon Street Plaza.

Running between Hay and Goulburn streets, Dixon Street Plaza is a people-friendly walkway in the heart of Chinatown in Haymarket.

Home to multicultural businesses and restaurants, the plaza is a key Sydney Lunar Festival site with a number of programs planned for the location, including the Lunar Lanes street party and roving cultural entertainment.

We’re looking for projects that:

• reflect the Year of the Water Rabbit and characteristics of the zodiac sign
• creatively interpret a traditional outdoor lantern
• draw inspiration from Chinese Australian cultures
• have both daytime and night-time appeal
• are innovative in the use of the Dixon Street Plaza outdoor space
• appeal to a broad audience in a high profile, heavily trafficked location
• demonstrate artistic excellence, innovation and creative expression.

Find out more about the Chinatown lanterns.

Banner gallery

We’re seeking to appoint up to 5 artists and creatives to design the banner gallery.

Successful concepts will use the street banner network throughout the city centre in a corridor-like effect along key thoroughfares, transit routes and business centres.

Your concept for the Banner Gallery should:

• reflect the Year of the Rabbit or draw inspiration from one of the communities that celebrate the Lunar New Year
• be highly engaging and appeal to a broad audience
• demonstrate artistic excellence, innovation, and a creative approach
• be designed in line with the banner specifications
• consider the sequencing of banners with up to 6 designs permitted in each banner gallery location.

Find out more about the Banner Gallery.

George Street Lunar Lanterns

We’re seeking concept designs for lanterns illustrating the 12 zodiacs of the lunar cycle as part of the Lunar Lanterns exhibition on George Street.

Concept designs will go through a 2-stage selection process. Selected designs will be adopted and transformed into the Lunar Lanterns.

The exhibition will be free for the public and able to be viewed night and day.

We’re looking for projects that:

• reflect the 12 zodiacs of the lunar calendar
• creatively interpret a traditional outdoor lantern
• draw inspiration from Asian Australian cultures in a contemporary way
• have both daytime and night-time appeal
• are innovative in the use of the height of the proposed lantern
• appeal to a broad audience in a high profile, heavily trafficked location
• demonstrate artistic excellence, innovation and creative expression.

Find out more about the George Street Lunar Lanterns.

Applications close for all the opportunities listed above at 11:59pm Sydney time on Sunday 26 June.