Vivid Creative Sydney Program Announced  April 29, 2011

For those left uninspired by Sydney’s slew of festivals on offer, Vivid Creative will aid your woes, bringing to the city a high-calibre lineup of thinkers, creative industry leaders, artists and musicians.

Last month we unveiled the impressive list of acts to take the stage of the Opera House (The Avalanches, Bat For Lashes, Architecture in Helsinki, Tame Impala, Canyons, etc); and now we can give you a hint at the second installment of the program’s highlights.

Kickstarting on May 27 – June 12, the annual festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Creative Sydney, will attract some of the most forward thinking people in the business, both here and globally. Speakers this year will include Etsy EU director Matthew Stinchcomb; founder of Future Shorts and Secret Cinema Fabien Rigall; ethical investor Gunther Pauli; founders of Design in Kinky and Semi Permanent and publishers of TAKE and EMPTY magazines Murray Bell and Andrew Johnstone; swimwear brand We Are Handsome and film director winner of Cannes Young Director Award and the winner of Best Narrative Film at the Vimeo Awards 2010 Ben Briand.

"I am thrilled to be able to bring Etsy to Australia for the very first time. Australia is actually ahead of the world in independent, niche online commerce - we are Etsy's third biggest market in the world for both buyers and sellers - which provides huge opportunities for our small creative businesses to grow and find markets internationally. Creative Sydney is all about exploring possibilities, building networks and helping creative people establish sustainable businesses,” creative director Jess Scully told Pedestrian.

“I am also excited to hear the stories behind We Are Handsome and Shoes of Prey - two Sydney fashion businesses that thought outside the box and have found huge international audiences."

The festival will draw from the film, fashion, design, music, performance, visual arts, events and technology industries to explore both their potential and ability to shape and transform our economy and society.

Already in its third year, Vivid Creative Sydney has received a burgeoning level of support, bringing together the creative community and engaging the general public. It also recognises Sydney as a major contender in the creative hub.

Check out the full list of speakers and events on the Vivid Creative Sydney website. Registration opens 9am Monday, 2 May, (it’s highly recommended you secure a spot, with over 15,000 people expected to attend this year). Stay tuned as they announce in the coming weeks additional live music showcases, debates, film screening and parties at some of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks, including the Opera House and MCA.

http://www.creativesydney.com.au/