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SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL ART SERIES OPENS TO PUBLIC
The Sydney International Art Series 2019-2020 is officially open, with both the Art Gallery of NSW and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia launching their exclusive exhibitions.
Head to the Art Gallery of NSW to discover the fascinating world of Japan supernatural: 1700s to now – an extraordinary exhibition revealing three centuries of folklore and fantasy in Japanese art. You can explore this wildly imaginative realm through more than 180 works from historical master Katsushika Hokusai through to contemporary superstar Takashi Murakami.
Meantime at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, British artist Cornelia Parker has transformed everyday objects into unexpected and explosive installations, sculptures, drawings and films. The exhibition is the largest ever of Parker’s work and includes one of her most popular works, Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View – the restored contents of a garden shed exploded by the British Army.
The Sydney International Art Series is an initiative of the NSW Government which takes place every Summer. Since its inception in 2010, the SIAS has generated over $161 million for the State and attracted over 2.3 million attendees, with over 219,000 overseas, interstate and regional NSW overnight visitors coming specifically to Sydney to view the exhibitions.
See both exhibitions and save 20% with an Art Pass, available for purchase at www.artpass.com.au
Photo: Cornelia Parker’s Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View (credit: Anna Kucera)
BUY REGIONAL THIS FESTIVE SEASON
One of the best ways you can support drought-affected regional communities in NSW is to Buy Regional this Christmas.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said Buy Regional is an online hub that showcases regional shops and sellers together in one place, to make it easy for shoppers to find the perfect Christmas gift and support regional NSW.
“Everywhere I go people tell me about the images they’ve seen and the stories they’ve heard of how drought is affecting people in the bush and that they want to do something to help, but they’re not sure how,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Every dollar you spend with a regional retailer or producer helps keep that small business afloat, supports jobs in that town and gets money flowing through the local economy, which is exactly what is needed while we wait for the drought to break."
The Buy Regional hub is divided into six categories, Wine, Fashion, Food, Gifts for Kids, Art & Design, and Christmas hampers, to help shoppers easily find gifts for that special someone.
Shoppers can also browse retailers and find gift ideas on @buyfromthebush, which has already attracted more than 85,000 followers. It's now branched off with the @stayinthebush campaign to encourage more people to visit beautiful regional towns and in doing so, invest in the future of rural communities.
HSBC SYDNEY 7S ON SALE
The non-stop action and entertainment of the HSBC Sydney 7s continues in 2020, with tickets now on sale for the iconic tournament that lights up Sydney’s summer with a multicultural festival of Rugby from 1-2 February.
Teams from all over the world will descend on Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta to battle it out in the annual integrated HSBC Men’s and Women’s Sevens World Series tournaments.
The precinct will be transformed into a Rugby festival with live bands, rides, interactive entertainment, the kids zone, and plenty of places to eat and drink, coupled with the best Rugby Sevens athletes from across the world.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said: “The HSBC Sydney 7s tournament is a jam-packed event showcasing some of the best rugby talent in the world, and I am delighted it will be taking place right in the heart of Western Sydney at the first-class Bankwest Stadium.”
The NSW Government proudly supports the HSBC Sydney 7s tournament through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.
For more information and tickets, click here.
MULLUM MUSIC TO MY EARS
Artists from across the globe and musical spectrum will gather on the Far North Coast of NSW next week for the Mullum Music Festival 2019. This year’s Festival will held across four-days from Thursday 14 November throughout various halls, pubs, cafes, churches and streets in the township of Mullumbimby.
Mullum Music Festival 2019 features a formidable list of acts, including Double J Australian Artist of the Year nominees Mojo Juju, Thando and Emma Donovan and the Putbacks. Chilean singer-songwriter Nano Stern returns to Mullum for his second visit, while Joe Pug, Sibusile Xaba and Allensworth join the international line-up.
The Festival also hosts a series of special events, including workshops and a special parade, and offers visitors the option to stay in the Festival Camping Village, with a regular bus service linking the Village to the Festival music venues.
Mullum Music Festival is supported by the NSW Government via Destination NSW.
Tickets can be purchased here.
NSW HOME TO WALKLEYS FOR TWO YEARS
NSW will be home to the esteemed Walkley Awards gala for two years, attracting the country’s best journalists, photographers, editors and media professionals to Sydney and regional NSW to celebrate Australia’s rich media landscape.
The NSW Government has partnered with the Walkley Foundation to present the upcoming awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre, Sydney on Thursday 28 November, 2019.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said it was fantastic to see the Walkleys return to NSW.
“Sydney remains Australia’s major events capital so it is fitting for us to welcome the Walkley Awards back as we host this significant event for the media industry,” Mr Ayres said.
“The NSW Government is proud to support groundbreaking, world-class journalism, and the continued shift in how we consume news means it has never been more critical for Australian media to innovate and integrate into our day-to-day lives.
“The Walkley Awards will bring more than 900 of the country’s top reporters, storytellers and media leaders to NSW, shining a spotlight on Sydney’s unique strengths in the hospitality, business and technology sectors to a highly influential audience.
“Industry events and conferences bring enormous benefit to regional NSW because we know that overnight business visitors often spend more than holiday makers – on average the visitor expenditure is almost double.”
Walkley Foundation director Kerry O’Brien said the move to regional NSW for next year’s award ceremony reflected the dispersal of Australia’s media industry.
“It’s heartening to see the NSW Government’s support for the Walkley Awards. We’re very pleased that the 2020 Walkley Awards will be putting the spotlight on the importance of regional journalism and the struggle to build a sustainable future for the media serving communities outside the big cities.”
To find out more about the 2019 Walkley Awards, go to walkleys.com
SYDNEY MODERN CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY
Construction works on the Sydney Modern Project have commenced, which will be an expansion that almost doubles the Art Gallery of NSW’s space, enabling more of our State’s art collection to go on show, as well as hosting more exhibitions from around Australia and the world. The Sydney Modern Project is a major public investment that will enrich the cultural life of NSW and inject more than $1 billion into the NSW economy, with Gallery visitor numbers expected to increase to at least two million people a year. The Project is due to be completed in 2022. The Gallery will remain open during construction.
CIRCA 1876 WINS TOP GONG
Hunter Valley restaurant Circa 1876 has been named the top restaurant caterer in Australia at a prestigious industry award ceremony. The National 2019 Savour Australia Restaurant and Catering HOSTPLUS National Awards for Excellence celebrate the achievements of Australia’s finest hospitality businesses which have previously won category awards at a state and territory level. During the past four years, Circa 1876 executive chef Trent Barrett and his team have won NSW Best Regional Restaurant (fine dining) three times and was named Best Restaurant Caterer (weddings) for three consecutive years, and again in 2019. Read the full list of 2019 winners here.
RACE TO THE FINISH IN WESTERN SYDNEY
Athletes will descend on Western Sydney on Sunday 24 November to take part in Ironman 70.3. The course is nestled at the base of the Blue Mountains and will utilise the iconic Penrith Lakes for the swim. The bike course includes breathtaking views of the blue Mountains, while the flat run course takes in Penrith’s Nepean River along the Great River Walk, before runners return to the Sydney International Regatta Centre venue to celebrate down the finish chute. There will be plenty of athlete buses from the CBD to the event village on Saturday and race day for those staying in the city. Register for the event here.
EAT DRINK LIVE
NEW ENGLAND
Eat Drink Live New England showcases local and regional food and drink products that are grown and produced in the New England Region of New South Wales.A diverse mix of market stalls will be operating on the day offering tastings and sales to the public - a great way to kick start your Christmas shopping! Entertainment and demonstrations for the whole family to enjoy will also be running throughout the day. Click here for details.
MATILDAS TO HOST CHILE AT BANKWEST
The Westfield Matildas will host Chile in the first international football fixture at Bankwest Stadium this Saturday 9 November. The game, supported by Destination NSW, will play a key role in the Matildas’ preparations for Tokyo 2020 World Cup Qualifiers. It is the first time the Matildas have played in Australia since March, when they hosted Argentina, South Korea and New Zealand in a friendly. Don't miss this chance to cheer on the Matildas! Gates open at 1.45pm with kick-off 3.00pm. Tickets here.
FREE CONCERT FOR DROUGHT-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES
Lithgow Blast is an alcohol-free all-ages event for young people and their families, taking place at Blast Furnace Park on Saturday 16 November. It is part of Lithgow City Council's program of activities for communities affected by the drought. The concert features a line-up of stellar artists from across the musical spectrum including Odette, The Delta Riggs, Yours Truly, Citizen Kay and Claude Hay. Gates open at 1pm with music from 2pm until 9pm. Find out more.
