12 May 2022
Crown Sydney celebrates Indigenous art for Vivid Sydney 2022
12 May 2022 – Indigenous artworks will be showcased along Barangaroo’s waterfront Wulugul Walk during Vivid Sydney 2022 with an immersive display of art projections as the centrepiece of Crown Sydney’s inaugural Vivid Sydney activation, The Gallery.
As part of the official Vivid Sydney program, The Gallery will employ spectacular lighting projections to create a 160m walk-through experience for pedestrians along the landmark waterfront walkway, bringing to life the works of First Nations students from Blacktown and Redfern. The installation will feature more than 90 individual artworks.
To create the activation, Crown Sydney partnered with Crown Resorts Foundation partners Blacktown Arts, owned and operated by Blacktown City Council, and Carriageworks to engage their major initiative, the Solid Ground program. Solid Ground provides artistic, education, training and employment pathways for Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island students across Western Sydney.
Crown Sydney CEO and Crown Resorts Group Head of Hospitality, Mr Simon McGrath said providing a vehicle for young First Nations artists was not only important due to Crown’s support of these programs, but also appropriate considering Barangaroo’s significance for New South Wales’ Aboriginal communities.
“The importance of connecting with and celebrating Aboriginal heritage is the driving force behind our 2022 Vivid Sydney installation. Honouring the heritage of Barangaroo was vital to us, so this partnership made complete sense. We have been proud supporters of these incredible programs through our work with the Foundation, so we are delighted that Crown Sydney can provide a platform for First Nations students to showcase their talent not only to Sydney but the world,” Mr McGrath said.
“At Crown we have a long history of supporting programs that proactively create pathways for Indigenous Australians whether it be through our support of these fantastic programs with Solid Ground or our own Indigenous Employment Program which celebrated ten years and 1,000 graduates just a few years ago.”
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Tourism and Sport, and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Crown Sydney’s activation, The Gallery, will be a Festival highlight.
“Vivid Sydney shines a bright spotlight on the artistic talent we have in NSW and it is so exciting to see young indigenous artists at the forefront, telling their stories and featured in such an iconic location,” Mr Ayres said.
“The Barangaroo redevelopment is crucial in creating jobs, attracting investment, driving the visitor economy and giving Sydney a world-class new waterfront development. This area has been given a new lease of life and is a must-see for visitors and those attending Vivid Sydney.
Now in its 12th year, Vivid Sydney will transform the Harbour City into an illuminating fusion of creativity, innovation and technology from Friday 27 May to Saturday 18 June, with more than 200+ events celebrating the essence of Sydney’s soul including its diversity, beauty, resilience, First Nations culture, and vibrant creative community
Carriageworks CEO Blair French said “This is an incredible opportunity for Solid Ground and all the participating students”
“Spotlighting the creative vision of these First Nations artists on the global stage provides a lifechanging moment for these young people. The Solid Ground program highlights the importance of having First Nations artist-in-residence mentors for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to grow by sharing and learning from one another through art. With the support of Crown Sydney, The Gallery allows us to show Sydney and the world just how important these programs are to evolve connections to culture for talented young First Nations students and artists and to create professional pathways in the arts.
In addition to The Gallery, Crown Sydney will be an integral part of Vivid Sydney’s Our Connected City visual spectacle, featuring the highest and largest searchlight cluster, with thirty-six beams shining from the rooftop, two-hundred and seventy metres above ground. Our Connected City will ignite CBD buildings in a ribbon of light from the Sydney Opera House to the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
For updates on Vivid Sydney celebrations at Crown Sydney visit www.crownsydney.com.au
For more information on Vivid Sydney head to www.vividsydney.com.
For further information on the Solid Ground program visit www.carriageworks.com.au/events/solid-ground-au/
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Holly Asser
Head of Public Relations, Crown Sydney
Holly.Asser@crownresorts.com.au
+61 411 595 226
Alexandra Smith
Group General Manager of Public Relations and Partnerships, Crown Resorts
Alexandra.Smith@crownresorts.com.au
+61 407 726 487
Greg Vekiarellis, Vivid Sydney
Business Director, Ogilvy PR
greg.vekiarellis@ogilvy.com.au
+61 401 873 217
About Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney is an annual celebration of creativity, innovation, and technology, which transforms Sydney for 23 days and nights. Staged for its 12th year in 2022, Vivid Sydney fuses mesmerising art displays and 3D light projections with exhilarating live music performances and deep-dive discussions from some of the world's brightest minds and the Sydney Opera House Lighting of the Sails. Vivid Sydney is owned, managed, and produced by Destination NSW the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency.