NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner has announced details of the 18-day Vivid Ideas program (25 May – 11 June 2012) consisting of creative industry and public events that will focus on creative ideas, discussion and collaboration.
“Vivid Ideas will connect Australia’s creative industries with global leaders and emerging talent in over 100 events, more than double the creative industry events of previous years. These events will cover topics from electronic gaming, fashion, film, and design to publishing, architecture and photography,” he said.
“Sydney is the creative capital of Australia with around 150,000 people in NSW directly employed in creative industries,” Stoner said.
As part of Vivid Ideas, the new Vivid Ideas Exchange will be located at the Museum of Contemporary Art, hosting an industry-curated program that will be the creative hub of Vivid Sydney where technology, art and commerce intersect. This year’s program will consist of a selection of international keynote talks, information sessions and discussion panels all open to the public and industry only events including conferences, workshops, networking and fundraisers.
The public program includes a range of free and ticketed events. Highlights from the program include keynote talks from Cory Doctorow, author and co-founder of world famous weblog Boing Boing; Chad Dickerson, CEO of Etsy; UK fashion talent, Henry Holland, from House of Holland, Jake Nickell, founder of Threadless and an appearance by VICE founder and CEO Shane Smith.
Other exciting additions are a partnership with the Sydney Film Festival; the Etsy Success Sydney microbusiness conference; ABC Rage 25th anniversary exhibition at Carriageworks; and a direction-setting think tank with 120 invited industry leaders on building the creative economy in NSW.
Major industry events include Song Summit, X Media Lab, Mumbrella 360, CeBIT Australia and SPARC Design.
Vivid Ideas Festival director, Jess Scully said the Vivid Ideas program will build on the growth of three years of industry conferences and the public-facing Vivid Creative Sydney program.
“Vivid Ideas is a summit, forum and a playground for the creative industries to challenge and inspire ideas, and to connect our creators with the support networks and expert guidance that helps convert ideas into applied innovation,” she said.
Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said this year’s Vivid Ideas program is a coming of age for the festival with a record number of business events on the program.
“Destination NSW in partnership with the NSW Department of Trade and Investment is committed to growing the business potential of Vivid Sydney as a platform for the creative industries to collaborate, foster business connections and showcase new ideas.
“The festival is a ground breaking event model developed by Destination NSW. As well as providing entertainment for the public and attracting visitors, it’s a stage for creative industry events and many associated business events.
“The Vivid Ideas program, one of the three pillars of Vivid Sydney – light, music and ideas, celebrates the creative industries and has a global outlook that will appeal to creative industry professionals across Australia and the world,” she said.
Vivid Sydney is the largest festival of light, music and ideas in Southern Hemisphere and a major celebration of the creative industries. The festival is one of five signature events on the NSW Events Calendar developed by Destination NSW on behalf of the NSW Government.
The full Vivid Sydney program is available by clicking here.
