The world’s largest light, music and ideas festival — Vivid Sydney will return in 2018, with a spectacular new light precinct to be created at Luna Park, the return of the much-loved Customs House, and the sails of the Sydney Op...Sydney House’s iconic sail structure will be illuminated with light to display everyday objects and iconic Australian motifs.
2018 Vivid Sydney Festival — Lighting of the Sails designed by Jonathan Zawada
Minister for Tourism and Major Events AdamAdam Marshallsaid: “Vivid Sydney has delivered incredible visual experiences and inspiration to visitors from across Australia and around the world. As the festival celebrates its 10th year, both visitors and locals can once again enjoy a captivating program of light installations, as well as a host of major light works and engaging music and ideas events, so I encourage everyone to start planning their trip early to make the most of this year’s event.””
“From Friday 25May to Saturday 16 June, this year’s festival will shine for 23 nights, transforming the harbour city with the vibrant colours of Vivid Light, showcasing electronic music and collaborative performances as part of Vivid Music across Sydney, and providing a global platform for creative debate and discussion through Vivid Ideas.”. ”
Owned, managed and presented by Destination NSW, the New South Wales Government agency responsible for tourism and major events, the 2017 Vivid Sydney festival attracted a record 2.33 million visitors and generated AUD 143 million in visitor expenditure.
Vivid Light
Vivid Sydney’s vibrant light walk will extend toLuna Park in Sydneyfor the first time, with large-scale projection installations facing towards Cockatoo Island to illuminate the iconic amusement park. The light show combines elements of history, magic, creativity, design, fantasy and imagination to create unforgettable memories in this one-of-a-kind venue. For the first time, Luna Park’s iconic Ferris wheel will be illuminated, featuring a new LED lighting upgrade with numerous decorative lights.
Vivid Sydney’s stunning light displays will once again illuminatethe Royal Botanic Garden Sydneyin 2018, where visitors can stroll along nocturnal, nature-inspired light paths. Inspired by the New Zealand kea and Australian rainbow lorikeet, Parrot Party will come alive when crowds gather, singing and displaying colourful lights.Aqueous will create a dazzling interactive light trail landscape, flowing with light through full illumination and inviting visitors to engage.The Bloom is a giant electronic metal flower with petals adorned with mirrors that reflect and refract light, allowing visitors to stand at the centre of the flower for the perfect photo opportunity.He'e nalu delivers a thrilling surfing sensation.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of her work The Little Fat Pot and the Little Pancake, renowned cartoonistMay Gibbs’s famous charactersLittle Fat Pot (Snugglepot) and Little Pancake (Cuddlepie) and their faithful companions will appearCustoms HouseBesides, they will journey through the Australian bush, embarking on an adventure full of unknown wonders. This work will be voiced by renowned Australian film and television actress Noni Hazelhurst (Noni Hazlehurst AM) and is beloved by kindergarten children around the world. Noni is also a patron of this Children’s Laureate author.
All eyes will be on the UNESCO World Heritage Site — Sydney Opera House, located at the heart of the Vivid Light Walk, Lighting of the Sails(with its Sail Lights) designed in 2018 by award-winning Australian artist Jonathan Zawada (Jonathan Zawada). Visitors will be captivated by the bold and futuristic dynamic digital sculpture display Metamathemagical , which draws inspiration from iconic Australian scientific, natural, and cultural motifs.
Many of Sydney’s iconic landmarks will once again be transformed by light, includingthe Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, where an installation will be mounted on the façade Virtual Vibration , a highly collaborative creative work co-produced with MCA Collection artist Jonny Niesche and composer Mark Pritchard . The interactive lighting display Skylark , stretching from the skyline of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay to the harbour basin, will allow visitors to leave their colorful mark on the city.
The world’s largest festival of light, music, and ideas — Vivid Sydney 2018 will return with a spectacular new light zone at Luna Park, the beloved Customs House making a comeback, and the sails of the Sydney Opera House illuminated with everyday objects and iconic Australian patterns.
Network Ten and MasterChef Australia will deliver a magical show in front of the ASN Co. building in The Rocks , celebrating the 10th anniversary of MasterChef Australia and Vivid Sydney alongside Mystery Gateau . Mini builder-chefs will take you on a wondrous and fun-filled journey, featuring the famous MasterChef countdown and a grand finale surprise.
Popular light precincts such as Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, Chatswood, Barangaroo, and Kings Cross will also return in 2018.
Taronga Zoowill bring back its giant animal light sculptures Lights for the Wild , featuring a rotation of fierce, quirky, and adorable new characters — the most popular attraction from last year. Visitors will see some spectacular new animal light sculptures and learn how Taronga Zoo aims to save 10 endangered species over the next 10 years.
An artistic fusion of fountains, lights, and lasers will immerseDarling Harbourvisitors as if diving into the depths of a dreamy ocean, with projections from BBC Earth and Sir David AttenboroughDavid Attenborough on the iconic roof of the Australian National Maritime Museum ,Blue PlanetII, exploring the wonders of the underwater world.
Inspired by the colorful streets and markets of Brazil's communities, a laser-lit market built from scaffolding and recycled materials will give the Chatswood Central Business District a fresh new look. The plaza will transport visitors into NASA’s imagery and 360-degree projection spaces, immersing them in the experience.
Barangaroowill feature a dazzling light and music show that illuminates the surrounding waterways, sparkling under elaborate puppet artistry, while a massive glowing object embarks on an adventure along the waterfront in the Sonic Light Theatre display.
Coca-Cola, which has contributed to the district, will return to continue lighting up Sydney’s iconicKings Crossand will support another KX initiative in 2018. The ribbon along Darlinghurst Road will be transformed into a spectacular light display. In 2018, the famous Coca-Cola sign will be revitalized once again through a series of standout performances and creative color shows. Other Vivid KX transformations include the historic Victorian Terrace, the World Bar hosting multi-narrative family parties; and the renowned Kings Cross Hotel, which will entertain top artists handpicked by the event’s curators.
Vivid Music & Ideas
Vivid Music & Ideas 2018 is even more exciting, showcasing electronic music genres ranging from noise, jazz, sonic experimentation to soul, including a one-night-only performance by Grammy Award-winning rock starSt.Vincent (St. Vincent) , as well as the major live music and arts event Alison Wonderland Curveball, both held at (Curve Ball). Curveball is created by the team behind Field Day, Harbourlife, and Listen Out. Carriageworks The return of the City Recital Hall
will highlight the rise of jazz, with undisputed superstar and three-time Grammy Award-winning saxophonistBranford Marsalis featured in the Innovators In Jazz series.Kurt Elling Alongside other global jazz vocal greats and divas Madeleine Peyroux will joinOrange Is the New Blackactor Lea Delaria for musical comedy and jazz performances.
As part of the Vivid Sydney program,Sydney Opera House’sVivid LIVE (Vivid LIVE) will present a series of unmissable Australian-centric shows, including several world premieres at the Opera House. This year’s highlights include American dream-pop band Mazzy Star, the godfather of West Coast rapIce-Cube (Ice Cube), the critically acclaimed post-90s independent rock singer-songwriter Cat Power, Grammy Award winnerSolange (Solange), as well as the much-anticipated collaboration performance between the Australian superstar Daniel Johns and Luke Steele .
As part of the Vivid Sydney program, now in its fourth year, Heaps Gay will deliver a not-to-be-missed performance at Sydney Town Hall – the debut of Qween's Ball. Other highlights include Young Hearts Run Free and performances by renowned Australian artists Vera Blue at the Enmore Theatre.
X|Celerate will also return to Vivid Music & Arts. X|Celerate is a collaboration between Vivid Sydney and the City of Sydney, supporting grassroots musicians and emerging local talent with performances across the city. Highlights include the Purple Sneakers 12th anniversary celebration at The Lansdowne, a food, wine, and music event at Cake Wines Cellar Door, and events at The Lady Hampshire featuring HAPPY and VISIONS .
Vivid Ideas
As the architects of the future, it’s time to collide ideas with diverse creative talents at Vivid Ideas. Vivid Ideas provides a forum for people to connect, collaborate, and spark new ideas that drive innovation in the technology, design, entertainment, and cultural industries. In 2018, Vivid Ideas also invited some of the world’s most renowned creative minds to explore visions of future human life.
Tech moguls, creative talents, and scientists will all take the stage at the 2018 Vivid Ideas. This year’s changemakers and creative icons include filmmaker, ocean explorer, and environmentalistJames-Cameron (James Cameron). In an exclusive session, he will share his passion for science and technology and how they have influenced his work in film and environmental advocacy. James will be in conversation with Adam Spencer and present the James Cameron – Challenging the Deep exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.
Internationally acclaimed Australian success story Dare Jennings(founder of Mambo Clothing, Phantom Records, and Deus ex Machina) will discuss with friends James Valentine how to build fashion brands that transcend age and lifestyle boundaries, and the joy of breaking the rules.
Futurist and game developer Jane McGonigal will demonstrate how games can transform our real-world lives. She and AI expert Kriti Sharma will explore the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and gaming, as well as what kind of world humans will create using technology, through a variety of colorful art and creative activities.
Visual strategy expert at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and co-founder of the Museum of AweDan-Guz (Dan Goods) will join the lineup of creative talent at Vivid Ideas to discuss the interplay between creativity and science, as well as why NASA has a position for a visual strategy expert.
New Horizons The series of events will examine both major trends and small developments in the fields of technology and innovation, bringing inspiration to professionals tackling the biggest challenges in the creative realm—making our future a better place. Topics of discussion includeFuture Fashion (Future Fashion),The Rise of Algae (Algae is the New Black),Blockchain Unveiled (Blockchain Decoded) andThe Evolution of Democracy (Evolving Democracy).
Vivid Sydney will host “Private Portraits of a Better Self” at the Art Gallery of New South Wales every Wednesday for three consecutive weeks. Special guests will pose bold questions such as whether we can better face death, how we can find common ground in the face of conflict, and why we need to raise awareness of female sexuality.Goldheist,Air Land Sea and Haiku Hands will provide music for these events.
At the Vivid Ideas Exchange held at the Museum of Contemporary Art, captivating talks by creative experts cover a wide range of topics, including the future of work, the ethics of human-centered technology, and how to help the world adapt to change.
Vivid Sydney sponsors
Vivid Sydney would like to thank its sponsors for their support of the 2018 event, including American Express, returning for the second year, and new partner Samsung, as well as supporting organizations: City of Sydney, Oracle Liquid, Property NSW, Sydney Opera House, TAFE NSW (New South Wales Technical and Further Education Commission), Technical Direction Company, Transgrid, Transport for NSW, and 32 Hundred Lighting. The Access and Inclusion partner for Vivid Sydney remains Cushman and Wakefield (US), Coca-Cola is the King’s Cross sponsor, and the festival continues its sustainability collaboration with the Banksia Foundation. New partners for Vivid Sydney also include Vivid Collaborators, CSIRO, Gateway Sydney, Network Ten, ATS Logistics, Kennards Hire, and Red Balloon.
Charitable partners include Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Northcott.
