IT'S LIGHTS ON! FOR VIVID SYDNEYSydney will burst into breathtakingly brilliant colour tonight as the lights are switched on for the 10th anniversary of Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas. Over the next 23 days and nights, Australia’s largest event will transform the city into a colourful showcase of illumination, sensational sounds and creative thinking from 25 May to 16 June 2018. The ‘Lights On’ moment, marking the start of the festival, will see all eyes turn to the Sydney Opera House for the Lighting of the Sails, created this year by award-winning artist from the North Coast of NSW,
Jonathan Zawada, and featuring fantastical digital sculptures of everyday objects and natural specimens that evolve, dissolve, mutate and move. This year the lights shine bright each night at nine precincts across Sydney including Barangaroo, Chatswood, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Kings Cross, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Taronga Zoo and for the first time, Luna Park. In addition to Vivid Light, a massive line-up of local and international superstars will perform across the city as part of Vivid Music, such as Solange, St. Vincent and the Branford Marsalis Quartet. Vivid Ideas will bring together some of the creative world’s cutting edge icons, including Game Changers James Cameron, Dare Jennings, Jane McGonigal and Kriti Sharma, for a series of talks, seminars and
workshops. Visitors to Vivid Sydney are encouraged to plan ahead and take public transport, with more than 6,000 extra services running throughout the festival. To plan your trip, visit www.vividsydney.com.
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS TO HOST WINE AWARDSThe judging of the prestigious 2018 NSW Wine Awards will take place in the Southern Highlands for the first time in the region’s history. The Southern Highlands food and wine association in conjunction with NSW Wine will manage the judging of the awards this coming September, with over 800 entries expected from the best winemakers across NSW. NSW is the second largest wine producing State and accounts for over 31 per cent of production in Australia. The NSW wine industry employs 21,000 people directly, which produces over $2 billion in food and wine tourism
for the state of NSW.
The Southern Highlands Food and Wine Association President Mark Bourne said, "We are thrilled that the Southern Highlands will host the NSW wine awards for the very first time in the region’s history and we are keen to showcase to the judges and the NSW wine industry the local wine industry's professionalism and drive for excellence and the regions great natural beauty and generous hospitality."
COUNTRY AND OUTBACK
NSW LAUNCHES DMPDestination Country and Outback NSW has launched their Destination Management Plan (DMP) this week. The DMP is a new document designed to guide and assist Destination Country and Outback NSW in their ongoing efforts to stimulate growth in the region’s visitor economy sector. Destination Country and Outback NSW was established by the NSW Government in 2017 with the key objective to drive the growth of the region’s visitor economy. The Destination Network covers 61.2 per cent of NSW and supports 38 local government areas plus the Unincorporated Far West Region of NSW. Chair of Destination Country and Outback NSW Stephen Bartlett said, “The DMP is based on
extensive research and analysis of visitor and consumer trends and significant consultation with key stakeholders, Destination NSW and Local Government.” The Destination Country and Outback NSW Destination Management Plan can be downloaded here. Image: Member for Dubbo, Troy Grant, Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall and Chair of Destination Country and Outback NSW, Stephen Bartlett.
JAMES CAMERON: CHALLENGING THE DEEP EXHIBITION OPENINGFilmmaker and renowned deep-sea explorer James Cameron and his underwater pursuits are front and centre at this year’s Vivid Ideas Series, with his sold-out Game Changers talk this Sunday and a major new immersive exhibition, James Cameron: Challenging the Deep, opening 29 May. For those who missed out on a ticket to his conversation with Adam Spencer, a visit to the James Cameron: Challenging the Deep will trace Cameron’s lifelong achievements in deep ocean science, technology and exploration, including his record-breaking dives in Deepsea Challenger, the submersible
vessel he designed then built in Sydney. Visitors will experience how Cameron’s drive and passion for understanding and exploring our oceans has shone a light on the spectacular phenomena and mysteries of the least known place on earth and enabled maritime archaeologists to document and understand the shipwrecks of RMS Titanic and the German battleship Bismarck. The exhibition will run until early 2019, visit www.anmm.gov.au for tickets. Image credit: Mark Thiessen/Nat Geo
Creative
RACHEL WARD'S PALM BEACH TO COMMENCE PRODUCTIONA new feature film directed by Rachel Ward will begin filming at Sydney’s iconic Palm Beach and its surrounds from next week until early July. Written by Ward and Joanna Murray-Smith, the film stars Bryan Brown, Sam Neill, Greta Scacchi and Jacqueline McKenzie, as well as Swazi-English actor Richard E Grant.
Palm Beach is a drama-comedy about a group of lifelong friends reuniting to celebrate a birthday, with Palm Beach providing a stunning backdrop for the unfolding drama. The good times roll with loads of laughter, lavish meals, flowing wine and fantastic music, but slowly tensions mount and deep secrets emerge. Director Rachel Ward said, “Palm Beach is filled with colourful characters and a plot that explores the complexities between different generations and life-long friends.” Palm Beach received principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with Create NSW, and was financed with support from Destination NSW and Spectrum Films.
LATER TRADING FOR VIVID SYDNEY AND SPORTS EVENTSThe NSW Government has extended hotel and club trading times for upcoming cultural and sports events including Vivid Sydney, the FIFA World Cup, State of Origin and the NRL Grand Final. Minister for Racing Paul Toole said, “The trading extensions are part of the NSW Government’s support for major cultural and sports events that boost our State’s economy, and create jobs and tourism opportunities. “This is the first time later trading has been granted for Vivid Sydney, reflecting its status as a major national festival.” Hotels and clubs in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross areas will be able to trade until 11pm on the three Sundays during Vivid Sydney - 27 May, 3 June and 10 June. Standard 10pm Sunday trading has been extended to midnight across NSW for State of Origin game 2, to be held in Sydney on 24 June, and also for the NRL Grand Final on 30 September. For full details of hotel and club trading extensions, click here.
GREEN LIGHT FOR WALSH BAY ARTS PRECINCTWalsh Bay’s transformation to become a world-class arts precinct is one step closer after approvals were received for the two state significant planning applications and the local residents and owners’ approval. The Walsh Bay Arts Precinct will see the rejuvenation and activation of Pier 2/3, Shore 4/5 and Wharf 4/5, in a unique heritage setting. The redevelopment will create a thriving arts precinct for some of our much-loved performing arts companies on Sydney’s famous waterfront. Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said, “It’s important
we continue to support Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australian Theatre for Young People, Gondwana Choir, Sydney Philharmonia Choir and The Song Company who will return to refurbished spaces where they can continue to produce, rehearse and showcase their work.” Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts said, “This exciting new project will attract thousands of new visitors every month and will become a great tourist drawcard for our city”. For more details, click here.
NSW MULTICULTURAL
CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL A multicultural retelling of The Wizard of Oz will be performed at the Revesby Workers Club on 3 June to celebrate 20 years of the Sydney-based NSW Children’s Festival. With 150 children from 15 cultures taking part, the fund-raising concert will be an interactive lesson in cultural harmony. For tickets and for more information, click here.
TASTE OF MANLY ON THIS WEEKEND This weekend Taste of Manly celebrates the best local restaurants, brewers and wine producers on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said it’s an unmissable event in any foodie’s social calendar. Visitors are asked to purchase re-usable glasses as tickets, for $10. Find out more here.
GOOD DESIGN SHOWCASE DURING VIVID SYDNEY After the success of this year’s 60th Anniversary Good Design Awards Ceremony, the spectacle continues with a free exhibition at the Overseas Passenger Terminal. The Good Design Showcase Exhibition gathers over 300 award-winning and game-changing designs from 1958 to now, and is presented in partnership with Vivid Sydney from 25-27 May. Click here for more information.
DNSW APPOINTS NEW GENERAL MANAGER
MARKETING Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase has announced that Ms Jan Hutton will be joining the Destination NSW team as General Manager Marketing, in late June. Ms Hutton has held a number of senior roles with Tourism South Africa, Deloitte Consulting, The Nielsen Company, Ogilvy and Gold Coast Tourism. Ms Hutton said she was delighted to be joining the number one destination marketing and events organisation in Australia.
APPLICATIONS
OPEN FOR DNSW SOUTH EAST ASIA ROADSHOW Destination NSW is pleased to offer NSW tourism suppliers and destinations the opportunity to attend the 2018 South East Asia Roadshow in Singapore and Malaysia taking place from 6-10 August, 2018. The Roadshow is designed to showcase Sydney and NSW products and destinations to key tourism partners. For more information and to register, click here.
DESTINATION
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