Support for arts and culture

Applications open for Calling Country creative production services for Sydney New Year’s Eve

We're looking for an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander organisation to provide creative production services for the Calling Country segment on New Year's Eve

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Calling Country respectfully acknowledges the custodians of the land on which Sydney New Year’s Eve is held and showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and culture on a global stage.

Calling Country is a harbour-wide ceremony embracing and honouring the Dreaming of this place and our relationship to it.

The applicant must work with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artists to present Calling Country and collaborate with the City of Sydney’s creative team on ceremony, projections, pyrotechnics, music, and live performance.

The service provider is responsible for the following elements:

  • Pylon projections – you must supply an overarching creative concept including sample imagery and/or curated original artworks. The City of Sydney’s projection content supplier will work with you to turn the concept and imagery or artwork into projection animations.
  • Live performance – including performers, instruments, props, costumes, hair, and makeup. The TV broadcast partner will supply the stage, stage management and production elements.
  • Fireworks soundtrack – the soundtrack must be an original commissioned work with rights assigned to the City of Sydney in perpetuity including any musical compositions used in the Calling Country performance comprising music and lyrics, sound recordings and live performance.

Stage 1 applications now open

Stage 1 applications can be completed using the online form.

This includes details of your organisation, key personnel, experience and capacity, knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, acknowledgement of the requirements and a proposed creative concept for 2023 Sydney New Year’s Eve.

A proposal for the full Calling Country production scope outlined in the specification is not required for stage 1 applications.

Following the review of the expression of interest proposals, the City of Sydney will invite shortlisted applicants to file a formal tender. A fee of $3,000 (ex GST) will be paid to invited stage two applicants on receipt of a complete and conforming tender application.

Find out more and apply by 11am on Wednesday 3 May 2023.