Expressions of Interest: Ideas

Vivid Ideas and Special Events hosts an array of thought-provoking events, experiences and deep-dive discussions with some of the world’s greatest minds, innovators, and creatives. We encourage audiences to discover new ways of thinking, be curious about the ‘next’ and, to challenge their perspective. In 2024, Vivid Sydney is looking for new ways to articulate ideas - we want to provide opportunities for our audiences to see, touch and feel innovative concepts beyond “talking heads”.

Vivid Ideas and Special Events is calling for concepts that relate to our creative direction for 2024 – Humanity – we want to stimulate debate and engage the widest and most diverse communities. Who are the extraordinary thinkers and innovators who are pushing the boundaries of what it means to be human in 2024? How can we tell these stories differently? What ideas can we explore and integrate through our program of Vivid Light, Music and Food?

We want to celebrate and showcase creatives and innovators that are leading the way, forging new collaborations and pushing the agenda.

We hope you can use the curatorial vision as a springboard and we welcome ideas that take the theme in different and unexpected directions and formats. You can also submit ideas that don’t neatly fit the curatorial theme but might create moments of awe, wonder and joy. We are open to exploring all ideas – but most importantly express an idea differently.

EXPERIENCES AND SPECIAL EVENTS

These events and experiences can take place across the city and provide audiences with the opportunity to engage with ideas in a new way. We encourage applicants to fuse artforms, provide interactive experiences and to explore concepts that are hands on, stimulating and unexpected. We welcome proposals that explore ideas that are connected to our Vivid Light, Music and Ideas program. Priority will be given to those concepts that examine ideas through story, experience and immersion.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To apply you will need to provide the following:

  • Personal information, - contact and contracting details 
  • A brief written description of the event concept, including but not limited to:
    • Proposed title of the event and brief description
    • Proposed venue and format
    • How are you expressing an idea differently – through experience, story, immersion – beyond “talking heads”? 
    • Does it relate to the Vivid Music, Light or Food program?
    • Proposed talent (preference will be given to events highlighting a diversity of talent)
    • Proposed event dates and times
    • Proposed ticket prices (preference will be given to those events with competitive pricing)
    • What are your Event objectives and outcomes?
  • How the event relates to the 2024 Creative Direction. The creative direction can be interpreted in many ways and we encourage applications that unpack the theme in unexpected and surprising ways.
  • Identification of which industry sector your event aligns with
  • Information on your audience and marketing reach and how you plan to market your event
  • Information on the accessibility and sustainability of your event.

SELECTION CRITERIA

In your EOI please demonstrate how your Vivid Ideas and Special Events event meets the following criteria:

  1. Creative and artistic merit, including demonstrated innovation in the creative or technology industry sectors, that addresses the 2024 creative direction
  2. Concept innovation - the potential for your event to use new ways to express ideas and    offer audiences a high quality, thought-provoking, interactive and innovative experience – beyond traditional talks.
  3. The potential for your event to attract or develop audiences
  4. The potential for connection and integration with the Vivid Light, Music and Food program.

Applicants are required to read the following documents prior to applying:

 

Who can apply for Vivid Ideas and Special Events?

Applications are open to any individual, collective or organisation interested in presenting or collaborating on an event in the Vivid Ideas and Special Events program that is aligned curatorially and meets the selection criteria. You will need to hold an ABN (Australian Business Number) to enter into an agreement with Destination NSW (the owner and manager of Vivid Sydney).

If you are applying as a group of individuals, one member must be nominated to sign and manage the agreement for the event. Applicants must meet the following pre-requisites prior to submitting an Expression of Interest for Vivid Ideas and Special Events 2024:

  • The applicant must be a registered business (hold an ABN, ACN or international equivalent)
  • The proposed event must not be a sales pitch or promotional tool for your business, products, or services
  • The event must take place in Sydney during the festival period – Friday 24 May to Saturday 15 June 2024.  Event must be ready to announce as part of the Vivid Sydney Program Launch in March 2024 (exact date TBC), with event concept, collateral (images and event copy) and speakers confirmed and provided to Vivid Sydney by Monday 8 January 2024. The applicant must be prepared and able to enter into a contract with Destination NSW (Destination NSW owns, manages and produces the festival) for the duration of the event, which includes holding all relevant licenses, insurances and approvals
  • The event must be related to the creative industries, innovation or the technology industry and showcase the latest thinking or innovations.  Proposals must respond to the 2024 creative direction.
  • The applicant must hold or be willing to take out public liability insurance to the value of $20 million for the duration of their event
  • Applicants must ensure that all public liability purchased internationally is valid worldwide, preferably with the interests of Destination NSW noted.
  • All concepts must be exclusive to Vivid Sydney (in the 3 months lead up to and during the festival period) and we welcome pilot projects. We can discuss this in more detail during the shortlist process.
What kinds of events are you seeking for Vivid Ideas and Special Events?

Vivid Ideas and Special Events boasts a prestigious and tightly curated program of experiences, events, workshops, screenings, and activations. Events must be related to the creative industries and 2024 creative direction and must be able to take place in Sydney during the festival period - Friday 24 May to Saturday 15 June 2024.

We are looking for propositions that aim to enlighten, inform, and challenge audiences and that fuse artforms or present interesting ideas in unusual ways. We encourage applicants to propose interactive experiences and to explore concepts that are hands on, stimulating and unexpected. We welcome proposals that explore ideas that are connected to the Vivid Light, Music and Ideas program. Priority will be given to those concepts that examine ideas through story, experience and immersion.

Sales / business pitches or strategic marketing events which do not align with the above are not the best fit for Vivid Ideas and Special Events program.

Why should I apply?

Applicants can benefit from the following:

  • Inclusion in curated program of events and activations as part of Australia’s largest and most successful public event.
  • Listing of your event on the Vivid Sydney website and inclusion in the Vivid Sydney digital marketing program.
  • Networking events with other program participants.
Can I engage a sponsor for my event?

Sponsors may be engaged for your event but must be pre-approved by Destination NSW. Sponsors will only have rights and benefits to your event and will not be able to align themselves with the wider Vivid Ideas and Special Events or Vivid Sydney program. There may be restrictions on sponsors in product categories including (but not limited to) alcohol, cause-related marketing, banking, and credit cards, automotive, technology (consumer and business), cleaning and hygiene, immigration, gambling and gaming, adult products or services and political groups or activities.

We are a brand looking to launch a product or align with Vivid Sydney. Should we complete this Expression of Interest?

This Expression of Interest does not cover brand activations or partnership proposals. We suggest contacting our Partnerships team to discuss your proposal.

What happens once my event is accepted?

You will be required to enter a contract with Destination NSW outlining the requirements and responsibilities of both parties during the term. Contracts will be sent out in November 2023. We require event concept, collateral (images and event copy) and speakers to be confirmed by Monday 8 January 2024.

Event collateral will be collected via an online form along with additional event information. Submitted event copy will be edited or re-written by our internal copywriter for consistency across the website. We also require all talent profiles and head shots to be uploaded to our online system once they are confirmed, to assist with marketing your event.

You agree that you will not announce your event prior to the Vivid Sydney media launch in mid-March 2024 (date TBC).

I am a speaker; can I apply to be booked to speak at an event?

The Expression of Interest is for creatives, professionals or organisations who can manage and host their own event in the Vivid Ideas and Special Events program. Please note we are not looking for book launches or business-generating events unless they align with the above curatorial directives.

Are you looking for performers / performance groups?

If your proposition is an immersive, interactive-led experience which you can self-produce, we would love to hear about it. However, we are not looking for street performers or corporate entertainers for the Vivid Ideas and Special Events program and do not book performers for specific events via the Expression of Interest.

If you are a musician who is looking to self-produce an exclusive event, we suggest applying as part of the Vivid Music program Expression of Interest.

I have a theatre production; can I apply to be part of the Vivid Ideas program?

We may be interested in site-specific immersive performance work if it meets the selection criteria.

What is the Review Process?

Applications will be assessed and shortlisted for inclusion in the Vivid Ideas and Special Events program by the Vivid Sydney Curatorial Panel, see all Key dates.

Please keep a copy of all submitted material, as this cannot be returned by Vivid Sydney.

The decisions of the Vivid Sydney curatorial panel are final, and no feedback can be given on individual applications.

Where can I find key dates & milestones?

Please see key dates and timelines here.

Where can I find the latest information regarding Vivid Sydney?

For updates and important information on Vivid Sydney we recommend signing up to 'My Vivid' on https://www.vividsydney.com/user/register 

We recommend monitoring www.vividsydney.com and Vivid Sydney social media channels.

This Expression of Interest process is not applicable for industry or corporate hospitality events, brand activations or product launches. Please contact the Vivid Sydney team if you would like to discuss opportunities to align your brand with the festival.