Opera House set to put in place annual limit for light shows on sails

Illuminations of international flags and those celebrating days of national independence would not be permitted on the iconic shells of the Sydney Opera House under a draft policy that also caps projections to 44 nights a year.

The first revision in a decade of the building’s framework governing the number, duration, and frequency of projections at the cultural landmark proposes to restrict lightings to 12 occasions per year across 40 nights to protect its world heritage standing.

The Everest barrier logo and trophy projected on the sails of the Opera House in 2018.Credit: Fairfax Media

A further two projections over four nights would be permitted for “unexpected and significant events with short lead times” at the government and Opera House’s discretion.

Last year, the shells were lit up a record one night in every five – or 71 days – with almost two-thirds coming at the request of the former NSW government.

The caps would reduce the time in which the Opera House could be illuminated by almost 40 per cent. About half of those days are quarantined for the Vivid winter lights festival.

NSW Premier Chris Minns will take the draft sails’ policy to state cabinet in the New Year for endorsement.

The colours of the Israeli flag were projected onto the Sydney Opera House after the Hamas terror attack in October.Credit: Getty

The proposal lands two months after the Sydney Opera House became the location of political protests when its sails were lit with the colours of the Israeli flag following Hamas’ attack on October 7, sparking criticism from pro-Palestinian supporters.

A few months prior, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese requested that the landmark be lit for his visiting Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

The proposed policy, which has been six months in development, clarifies the limits, conditions, criteria, and application process for future illuminations.

It falls short of calls by three former leaders of the Sydney Opera House for a complete moratorium on politically motivated projections on its sails.

Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese pose in front of the sails of the Opera House bearing the colours of the Indian flag.Credit: James Brickwood

Arts Minister John Graham will retain the right to control and direct the Opera House Trust under the building’s original act.

The plan states the use of the roof or shells as a medium for the projection of colour or imagery would be “confined to exceptional, non-commercial occasions of brief duration”.

But the stricter policy adds a clause excluding the use of the sails for celebration of other nations’ anniversaries of independence or their formation, or diplomatic relations with Australia.

The Sydney Opera House said it had increasingly received requests to light the shells for these purposes and found it challenging to meet or balance all requests.

Protesters on the harbour foreshore against the promoting of the 2018 Everest horse race on the Opera House sails.Credit: James Brickwood

“While acknowledging the significance of these or similar milestones to local and international communities, [the Opera House] cannot facilitate projections for all of these milestones and therefore, on equity grounds, will not approve projections for these purposes,” the draft policy reads.

The new provisions are more explicit than previous rules in excluding projections of other nations’ flags and limiting projections to the Australian, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander flags.

The Opera House’s controversial illumination in 2018 for The Everest horse race would not have occurred in the same form under the draft policy.

The projection – featuring a trophy, text, logo, and the horses’ barrier numbers – would have required separate and explicit approval under the Heritage Act for the first time.

The Opera House is a national and World Heritage-listed site, one of the great buildings of the 20th century, Australia’s pre-eminent performing arts venue, and a monumental urban sculpture.

The draft policy said projections significantly alter the Opera House’s external appearance and the intended and authentic experience of the building as a sculptural form.

Up to four projections for third-party organisations and eight projections for Opera House and government events would be allowed over 12 months, to a maximum of three in a single month.

Third-party illuminations include requests from the federal government, local councils, unions, and consulates. They would be limited to one night only, and those of the same or a similar cause would not be approved in consecutive years.

The Sydney Opera House sails are seen illuminated in honour of Barry Humphries following his state memorial service at Sydney Opera House on December 15.Credit: Getty

The Opera House would consider requests for projections twice yearly in blocks: from January to June and July to December.

Applications must not be deemed detrimental to the cultural heritage significance of the building. They must be related to a major cultural or community cause, initiative, or event of state, national, or international significance.

“The Sydney Opera House is one of Australia’s most beloved icons,” a government spokesperson said.

“The lighting of landmarks has become an important way for the state to recognise, commemorate and celebrates important events. But we need to find the right balance that protects the cultural heritage and significance of the Opera House sails.”

Each night this month, the sails project Badu Gili: Celestial – created by First Nations artists Gail Mabo and Nikau Hindin. On December 15, they were illuminated in honour of Barry Humphries following his state memorial service.

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