[Image description: The Sydney Opera House lit up in colours of pinks and blue in an abstract design during the Sydney Vivid Festival in 2017. Image source: Sydney Vivid website.]
Running from 26th May to 17th June, Sydney’s Vivid Festival is the largest of its kind in Australia. And we are pleased to see the continued investment by the Festival organisers into making the event more accessible year on year.
This year’s festival has even more sensory friendly events, audio described and Auslan interpreted events and wheelchair accessible areas than ever before, to make the festival an event that everyone can enjoy.
The event is split into three areas: Vivid Light, Vivid Music and Vivid Ideas.
Vivid Light
Vivid Light is the main attraction for most visitors to Vivid and where light art installations are projected onto the side of iconic Sydney buildings such as the Opera House, Customs House, and The Museum of Contemporary Art.
Additionally, there are standalone art pieces and sculptures dotted throughout precincts across the city. These include Barangaroo, Chatswood, Darling Harbour, Opera House, Taronga Zoo and the Rocks, amongst others.
There are 58 installations that are wheelchair friendly, 67 that are audio described, 1 Companion Card and 1 that is sensory friendly.
From ethereal columns, to sunflowers, to the harbour bridge and beyond to the Sydney Opera House, there really is a vast array of interactive and beautiful lights displays.
For more information about the light installations, visit: https://www.vividsydney.com/light/accessibility/
Vivid Music
Vivid Music is a dynamic program of cutting-edge music including live performances and music collaborations from local and international artists.
There is a multitude of music events across the city. An example of an accessible, Hearing Loop friendly experience is Dianne Reeves, who is a jazz vocalist. This show takes place in the City Recital Hall which is an accessible and inclusive venue. Featuring a T-Loop system, National relay Service is supported, as are Companion Cards and offers lift access, accessible toilets and seating.
There are a number of accessible music events taking place with more information available here: https://www.vividsydney.com/event/music
Vivid Ideas
Vivid Ideas lets visitors connect with leaders and learn new skills through a series of lectures and discussions.
Taking Artists with Disability Seriously
This event discusses how theatre makers, visual artists and dancers with disability get taken seriously by bringing together findings from across Europe, the US and UK where professional inclusive arts are explored.
Three recent Winston Churchill Fellows, Sarah-Vyne Vassallo (Murmuration), Gabrielle Mordy (studio A) and Alison Richardson (RUCKUS) headline the event, with a panel discussion chaired by the CEO of Accessible Arts.
Tickets are $15 and are available via an external website called the Ticket Group: https://vividsydney.theticketgroup.com.au/Online/default.asp?doWork%3A%3AWScontent%3A%3AloadArticle=Load&BOparam%3A%3AWScontent%3A%3AloadArticle%3A%3Aarticle_id=6AC581CB-A72B-46CB-BAAF-F9A5F3FE5A9F
There are many more interesting events taking place throughout Vivid Ideas. For more information visit here: https://www.vividsydney.com/ideas/accessibility/
There are many more resources available at the Vivid Festival website including an interactive accessible map, information on interactive tours and volunteers who can assist.
For more information, visit: https://www.vividsydney.com/access-and-inclusion-light
Or if you need more assistance, contact IDEAS on 1800 029 904.
