SYDNEY.- Australia's Tourism New South Wales (TNSW) announces Vivid Sydney, the biggest international music and light festival in the Southern Hemisphere. From May 26 through June 14, Vivid Sydney transforms one of the world’s greatest destinations into Asia-Pacific’s creative hub, showcasing the city’s creativity, colors, ideas and innovations. Replete with amazing light, breathtaking vistas and diverse villages as well as residents who embrace creativity and individuality, Sydney welcomes artists to exhibit their extraordinary avant-garde work on a grand scale.

“The inaugural year of Vivid Sydney is an exciting milestone in the establishment of Sydney as the cultural epicenter of the Asia-Pacific,” says Jodi McKay, New South Wales Minister for Tourism. “Our city possesses a wealth of creative talent across a variety of industries and this unique event illuminates the city’s most vibrant citizens.”

The cultural explosion will include four major events, artistic villages, demonstrations and performances in and around the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Circular Quay and the City Center. Vivid Sydney features Luminous, a music festival at Sydney Opera House, curated by one of the biggest names in international music, Brian Eno. A founding member of Roxy Music, Eno, is one of the most significant record producers on the contemporary music scene, having worked with David Bowie, Coldplay, U2 and Talking Heads. The breathtaking concert boasts a ground-breaking collaboration that brings together music, art and light to stunning effect.

Smart Light Sydney will showcase dynamic light art sculptures using smart technology with a free Light Walk around Sydney’s iconic harbor precinct. With dozens of beautiful and atmospheric light creations, Smart Light Sydney will inspire in its innovative approach to revitalize urban spaces. Conceived by Sydney born lighting designer and composer Mary-Anne Kyriakou, the event is themed Cities and Memories.

A third major component, Fire Water, a free event, will offer three nights of ‘flame, food and spectacle’ in the city’s famous Rocks district. For the first time ever, a spectacular interpretation will show the dramatic burning of the convict ship the Three Bees, which sank in Sydney Cove in 1814. Stunning wooden fire sculptures and lighting installations will create a warm, magical atmosphere while chefs rustle up flame-grilled food on outdoor barbeques.

Luminous, Smart Light Sydney and Firewater will be augmented by Creative Sydney, a festival of ideas centered around a series of creative industry seminars, workshops and events celebrating the wealth and diversity of Sydney’s artistic talent. Staged over the course of the festival, programming covers disciplines such as visual arts, music, performing arts and design and will also showcase the city’s emerging creative talents.

“We have some of the city’s best creative minds working on this festival, and we are confident that in time Vivid Sydney will attract the same level of international attention as the City’s New Year’s Eve celebrations on Sydney Harbour,” says Geoff Parmenter, Chief Executive Officer, Events New South Wales.