How Gill Minervini used ‘star power’ to make Vivid one of the world’s biggest events

After four years running what she calls ‘the beautiful monster’ festival director Gill Minervini reveals how Troye Sivan, Jennifer Coolidge and Martha Stewart changed the event forever.

Last year at the helm: Gill Minervini

This will be your last year at the helm of Vivid Sydney. What do you wish you’d known about the job before you took it on? I think everybody probably underestimates Vivid’s size and scale. I’ve done a lot of big public events in the past – but this one, I call it the beautiful monster. It’s one of the biggest events in the world. Just when you think you’ve got your head around it, it’s like, ‘Oh no, the ferries! We’ve got to get them lit up!’

You say you’re in “the business of making memories”. Is it a good business to be in? My highlight of last year was one night walking along the Light Walk, and I saw a little boy run down the stairs in Campbells Cove to his Mum and Dad in total excitement, saying, ‘It’s Vivid! It’s Vivid!’ Even now it brings a tear to my eye. It’s an enormous responsibility to be making memories people will carry forever. If you forget it, you forget the joy and heart of the job.

Do you have a childhood memory like that? When I was the creative director at the City of Sydney I did so many Christmas concerts. Each time I would stop just to remember what it was like for me as a little girl going with my parents to the John Martin’s Christmas Pageant in Adelaide. It is etched into my mind.

In addition to light, art and music, you introduced Vivid’s food program. Why? My parents were publicans, and my brother is a chef; I grew up around food. It’s a passion of mine, and I don’t see a distinction between it and [Vivid’s other offerings] in terms of creativity. I didn’t feel that adding Vivid Food was a stroke of genius, I thought it was really obvious. Now, it’s hard to imagine the event without it.

‘I always wanted to up the star power of vivid’: Gill Minervini. Picture: David Swift

Especially since this year you’ve managed to attract both Nigella Lawson and Martha Stewart… I know, right! During my four years as director I always wanted to up the star power of Vivid. It helps boost our international profile, getting people like Jennifer Coolidge and Mike White [the star and creator, respectively, of The White Lotus]. Last year, we had screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and Baz Luhrmann. In my first year, we had [pop star] Troye Sivan. Audiences love to hear about the creative processes of these people.

Who is your standout favourite guest? Jennifer was a standout. She is a brilliant woman – what you see is what you get. She decided to stay for an extra week just because she loves Sydney so much.

In 1989 you became the first festival director of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras at just 26. What do you remember about that time? It was the best and the worst of times because we were right in the eye of the storm with the HIV/AIDS crisis. I grew up pretty fast in that sense. It’s a hard thing to explain, but I feel like the depth of the integrity of the event, the importance of it, the fact people would hang on to live just to see the parade – that was never lost on me, and will never leave me in terms of the power of events and how they can change perceptions and change lives.

In a full-circle moment, the artwork of your late friend David McDiarmid will be projected onto the Opera House sails at this year’s Vivid. What would he think of this honour? He would be tickled pink. David was about 10 years older than me, and he took me under his wing. I’m still not sure why, but we had a great friendship and creative collaboration. It’s been 30 years since he died, and there’s a timeless power to his work; it’s so relevant today. In terms of the aesthetic, the Opera House is going to shine and glimmer. The colours will be incredible.

Given your pedigree as festival director, I’m curious to know, do you throw a good house party? I’d like to think so! When my partner said she’d organise something for my last big milestone birthday, I was like, ‘No way, hands off – leave it to me, thanks!’

Vivid Sydney runs from May 23 to June 14