Latest news with #Vividfestival
Perth Now
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Billionaire lifestyle trailblazer lights up festival
America's first self-made female billionaire - often hailed as the original global influencer - Martha Stewart has hit the stage at Sydney's Vivid festival. The home-making icon has had an extremely full life, including publishing more than 100 books, hosting Emmy award-winning television shows and running a successful e-commerce business. In the early 2000s she faced a five-month stint behind bars after being convicted of conspiracy, obstruction and lying to federal investigators, although she maintains her innocence. At 83 years old, Stewart is showing no signs of slowing down. Appearing as part of Vivid's Global Storyteller series in conversation with Benjamin Law, she reflected on her extraordinary career, personal brand and love for home-making and design. Stewart spoke about some of her most memorable moments in popular culture and how she has stayed relevant for more than 40 years. She last visited Australia for a family holiday in 2019, but said she was looking forward to exploring Sydney. "I have made some wonderful memories travelling to Australia over the years, so I am thrilled to return for Vivid Sydney," she said. "I'm always looking for inspiration when I travel so I'm excited to see what Sydney has to offer." Vivid Sydney was excited to welcome one of the most revered and fascinating minds to its stage, festival director Gill Minervini said. "We could not think of a better figure that encapsulates this year's theme of Dream more than Martha Stewart," she said.
West Australian
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Billionaire lifestyle trailblazer lights up festival
America's first self-made female billionaire - often hailed as the original global influencer - Martha Stewart has hit the stage at Sydney's Vivid festival. The home-making icon has had an extremely full life, including publishing more than 100 books, hosting Emmy award-winning television shows and running a successful e-commerce business. In the early 2000s she faced a five-month stint behind bars after being convicted of conspiracy, obstruction and lying to federal investigators, although she maintains her innocence. At 83 years old, Stewart is showing no signs of slowing down. Appearing as part of Vivid's Global Storyteller series in conversation with Benjamin Law, she reflected on her extraordinary career, personal brand and love for home-making and design. Stewart spoke about some of her most memorable moments in popular culture and how she has stayed relevant for more than 40 years. She last visited Australia for a family holiday in 2019, but said she was looking forward to exploring Sydney. "I have made some wonderful memories travelling to Australia over the years, so I am thrilled to return for Vivid Sydney," she said. "I'm always looking for inspiration when I travel so I'm excited to see what Sydney has to offer." Vivid Sydney was excited to welcome one of the most revered and fascinating minds to its stage, festival director Gill Minervini said. "We could not think of a better figure that encapsulates this year's theme of Dream more than Martha Stewart," she said.
Sky News AU
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Sydney illuminates for 2025 Vivid festival
Some of Australia's most iconic venues were lit up on Friday night for the annual Vivid festival in Sydney. The threat of wet weather didn't dampen spirits — more than 3 million people are expected to hit the streets during the 23-day event. Transport and Tourism Chief Executive Margy Osmond joins Sky News Australia to discuss how the three-week festival showcases Sydney.
West Australian
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Vivid flips the switch on Sydney in first-night spectacular
The Sydney CBD lit up for the first night of the annual Vivid festival on Friday night. More than three million people are expected to hit the streets over the 23-day event, taking in over 40 installations and projections spread across the Harbour City. This year's theme is Dream – a vision of light, harmony and a future in balance. 'In 2025, Vivid Sydney invites you to dream big,' the official website reads. 'To go to the outer reaches of your mind, to think differently, without boundaries or preconceptions and to immerse yourself in new experiences and ideas. 'We want you to dream with the lights on, to daydream, to dream without boundaries, to soar.' Celebrations kicked off on Friday evening by First Light, a special welcome ceremony featuring Indigenous Australian dancers from NAISDA. Dancers in traditional wear, illuminated by bursts of fire and colourful lighting, brought Campbells Cove at The Rocks to life, followed by a free concert celebrating First Nations pride. Hosted by rapper Ziggy Ramo, visitors were invited to celebrate the next generation of Indigenous artists such as DJ Rona, Kaiit and Jeremy Whiskey in a one-night-only music extravaganza. One of Vivid's most highly-anticipated centrepieces is the lighting of the Opera House Sails. This year, it will display the works of David McDiarmid in Lighting of the Sails: Kiss of Light on the 30th anniversary of the artists death. The projections will act as a 'rallying cry for equality, inclusion and freedom', the festival organisers said, through a colourful and quirky lens – including slides of moving tiled shapes, rainbows and a green eyeball. Circular Quay is not the only spot to get in on the action. The festival will be split into five zones, including The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and inner city and, for the first time since 2018, Martin Place. Things look a little different this year with Vivid deciding to scrap its drone show and make its famous light walk free. Destination NSW confirmed the decision to scrap the drone show, which has been part of the festival since 2021, in March citing safety concerns. It was thought the spectacle would bring in too many people and create dangerous conditions after crows were stuck in a bottleneck while trying to leave the western side of Circular Quay last year. Meanwhile, the light walk – which previously set festival-goers back $30 – will now be free as this year's festival aims to be as 'budget-friendly' as possible. 'We are all feeling the pinch in terms of the economy and cost-of-living crisis,' Festival director Gill Minervini said. 'I really wanted Vivid to respond to that. My job as director is to renovate and refresh the festival every year. 'We want audiences to come back time after time, and not think, 'Oh, it's the same old Vivid'. We want to keep everyone guessing.'
Perth Now
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Vivid lights up Sydney in epic colour show
The Sydney CBD lit up for the first night of the annual Vivid festival on Friday night. More than three million people are expected to hit the streets over the 23-day event, taking in over 40 installations and projections spread across the Harbour City. This year's theme is Dream – a vision of light, harmony and a future in balance. 'In 2025, Vivid Sydney invites you to dream big,' the official website reads. 'To go to the outer reaches of your mind, to think differently, without boundaries or preconceptions and to immerse yourself in new experiences and ideas. Indigenous performers at the Countdown til light up, the opening night of Vivid Sydney. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia 'We want you to dream with the lights on, to daydream, to dream without boundaries, to soar.' Celebrations kicked off on Friday evening by First Light, a special welcome ceremony featuring Indigenous Australian dancers from NAISDA. Dancers in traditional wear, illuminated by bursts of fire and colourful lighting, brought Campbells Cove at The Rocks to life, followed by a free concert celebrating First Nations pride. Celebrations were kicked off on Friday evening by First Light, a special welcome ceremony featuring Indigenous Australian dancers from NAISDA. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia Hosted by rapper Ziggy Ramo, visitors were invited to celebrate the next generation of Indigenous artists such as DJ Rona, Kaiit and Jeremy Whiskey in a one-night-only music extravaganza. One of Vivid's most highly-anticipated centrepieces is the lighting of the Opera House Sails. This year, it will display the works of David McDiarmid in Lighting of the Sails: Kiss of Light on the 30th anniversary of the artists death. The projections will act as a 'rallying cry for equality, inclusion and freedom', the festival organisers said, through a colourful and quirky lens – including slides of moving tiled shapes, rainbows and a green eyeball. The sails of the Sydney Opera House will be lit up with the works of David McDiarmid as a 'rallying cry for equality, inclusion and freedom'. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia Circular Quay is not the only spot to get in on the action. The festival will be split into five zones, including The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and inner city and, for the first time since 2018, Martin Place. Things look a little different this year with Vivid deciding to scrap its drone show and make its famous light walk free. The festival will be split into five zones, including The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and inner city and, for the first time since 2018, Martin Place. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia Destination NSW confirmed the decision to scrap the drone show, which has been part of the festival since 2021, in March citing safety concerns. It was thought the spectacle would bring in too many people and create dangerous conditions after crows were stuck in a bottleneck while trying to leave the western side of Circular Quay last year. Meanwhile, the light walk – which previously set festival-goers back $30 – will now be free as this year's festival aims to be as 'budget-friendly' as possible. Lights across Circular Quay with small crowds on the opening night of Vivid Sydney. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia Crowds look out to the Opera House. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia 'We are all feeling the pinch in terms of the economy and cost-of-living crisis,' Festival director Gill Minervini said. 'I really wanted Vivid to respond to that. My job as director is to renovate and refresh the festival every year. 'We want audiences to come back time after time, and not think, 'Oh, it's the same old Vivid'. We want to keep everyone guessing.'
