Businesses want to light up North Sydney next year with Vivid festival

Businesses are teaming up to bring the Vivid festival to North Sydney next year in a bid to boost the after-hours economy.

A neon Sydney harbour bridge, Vivid festival a festival of light and music. Sydney. Picture by DAMIAN SHAW

NORTH SYDNEY businesses are campaigning to extend the hugely popular Vivid light festival into the CBD.

The companies have formed the North Sydney Activation Steering Committee to gather support and money for their plan.

Co-ordinator Wendy Foster said the main driver was to bring life back to the North Sydney CBD.

The Harbour Bridge becomes a spectacular rainbow of light during Vivid. Picture: Damian Shaw

The Sea of People was a highlight at Milsons Point this year. Picture: Supplied

North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson joins the Cloudmen at Milsons Point. Picture: Supplied

“Many North Sydney businesses can already see the opportunity and are willing to commit funds and their business resources to make it happen,” she said.

“What we need now is wider business and local community support.”

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They want to raise $400,000 to see the entire North Sydney CBD lit up for the festival next year.

Luna Park, Australian Catholic University and the Union Hotel are just some of the organisations involved.

“Ultimately the business community has to come up with most of the funding,” said North Sydney Chamber of Commerce President Mike Reddy.

Artist Amanda Parer with her inflatable rabbits at this year’s festival. Picture: John Appleyard

Vivid draws huge crowds to Circular Quay every year. Picture: Simon Bullard

The group pointed out businesses in established Vivid precincts are ­anecdotally reporting turnover increases up to 500 per cent during the festival.

In the past two years Vivid extended its reach along the northern shoreline and the Harbour Bridge was transformed into a spectacular rainbow of lights.

North Sydney Council provided funding for the bridge’s LED display and also funded a series of installations this year including the popular Sea of People at Kirribilli.

“It would be a wonderful thing for North Sydney CBD to be active in Vivid 2015,” said North Sydney Council Vivid 2014 project manager Martin Ellis.

This year marked the sixth anniversary of Vivid. It attracted a record 1.43 million people including a swell of international visitors.

A Destination NSW spokesman said it was happy to provide information to assist with discussion and planning.