A virtual fantasy world, a living water sculpture and a global creative leaders’ summit are just some of the attractions on offer at the City of Sydney’s venues and spaces as part of Vivid Sydney 2016.
As a Vivid Sydney supporter, the City will host several of the festival’s main attractions at venues and locations across the city centre, including Martin Place, Customs House and Sydney Town Hall.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City is proud to support an event that showcases Sydney’s culture, creativity and public spaces.
“Vivid Sydney is the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, with last year’s event attracting more than 1.7 million local and international visitors,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Through light displays, artworks, music performances and creative conferences, this fantastic event showcases some of our most stunning public buildings and spaces, and highlights the extraordinary creative talent Sydney has on offer.
“With this year’s event including debates on everything from new business models to further growing our city’s creative heart, Vivid Sydney is full of opportunities for people to enjoy and be involved in Sydney’s cultural life.”
The City spends more than $34 million each year supporting culture development in Sydney, including world-class events like Vivid Sydney, grants and sponsorships, public art programs and community facilities.
Major attractions in the city area during Vivid Sydney include:
CUSTOMS HOUSE, CIRCULAR QUAY
Sydney’s Hidden Stories 6pm–11pm, 27 May–18 June
A 3D projection on the façade of the heritage-listed Customs House building, will bring to life Sydney’s Hidden Stories, a fantastical world of brightly coloured landscapes filled with witches, wizards, gnomes and fairies.
Visitors can also view Sydney’s Hidden Stories on Huawei’s latest mobile and tablet devices at the New Reality Viewing Platform for a more special, augmented reality experience.
SYDNEY TOWN HALL
Vivid Ideas Game Changers Times and dates vary from 28 May–10 June
At Vivid Ideas, the Game Changers Talk Series at Sydney Town Hall will be headlined by storytellers shaping the creative landscape, including acclaimed director and producer Spike Jonze, House of Cards creator Beau Willimon, the creative force behind Orange is the New Black Jenji Kohan, and one of Australia’s most influential new creatives, Margaret Zhang.
Sydney Film Festival Hub and Bar 10am–late, 8–19 June
Lower Sydney Town Hall will be transformed into a movie hub for the 2016 Sydney Film Festival. The Hub will feature a food and wine bar and lounges and more than 25 free events including exhibitions, music and talks.
REMIX Sydney 8.30am–6pm, 2–3 June
Creative leaders and decision makers will come together for REMIX Sydney as part of a series of global summits to discuss how culture, technology and entrepreneurship can help innovative industries grow.
REMIX will feature talks, debates and panel discussions on topics including how to build creative cities, developing new business models to grow the cultural economy, and finding new audiences for creativity.
MARTIN PLACE
Fountain 6pm–11pm, 27 May–18 June
In sync with a live stream of the growing global human birth rate, a fountain sculpture will spout a continuous flow of droplets representing humans. Light projections on the streams will give the illusion of tiny human figures continuously emerging from the fountain and walking off into the distance.
Fountain will be located in the centre of Martin Place plaza.
Geometrics 6pm–11pm, 27 May–18 June
Atop a circular platform, 32 beams of light will create giant pillars of light skyward. Each light moves in synergy to form patterns, effects and shapes on the facades of surrounding buildings in Martin Place.
Mountain of Light 6pm–11pm, 27 May–18 June
Standing four metres tall, a spectacular volcanic mountain is brought to life with computerised light and sound effects. The interactive installation can be controlled by passers-by and culminates in an eruption of flames and lava.
For more information and the complete Vivid Sydney program go to vividsydney.com Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
For media inquiries: City of Sydney Senior Publicist Elaine Kelly 0477 362 550 or ekelly@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore: Paul Mackay 0432 182 647 or email pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au