Council appalled at State Government’s $1.1 million price tag to bring Vivid to inner west

The Inner West Council has baulked at the exorbitant price tag the State Government has put on Vivid Sydney’s expansion into the Inner West.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne wrote to Destination NSW last year seeking to collaborate in spreading the Festival westwards.

Byrne said he could not believe the Government was now seeking to charge inner west ratepayers in excess of $1 million to bring Vivid to the creative heart of Sydney.

“They are asking for an $800,000 licensing fee, plus they want Council to stump up all actual operations costs of the Festival in the inner west, which will cost at least another $300,000,” he said.

“Surely government funded arts festivals should be about bringing culture to more people not profiteering?

“While the Government didn’t even bother to reply in writing, they have now confirmed these ridiculous costings.

"This government is so focused on the eastern suburbs and north shore that they are willing to leave the rest of Sydney in the dark."

Vivid Sydney is an annual 23-day festival of “light, music and ideas”, which will run from 25 May to 16 June in 2018.

Last year, a record 2.3 million people attended the festival, contributing more than $140 million to the NSW economy.

But Mayor Byrne is still determined to bring a festival of light, and its associated economic benefits, to the local community.

“We have more people working in creative industries here in the Inner West, than any region in Sydney” he said.

“It’s my goal to make the inner west the arts and music capital of Sydney.

“I think we can organise our own inner west festival of light, making use of the huge pool of talented artists that have made the inner west their home.

“The economic benefits for our local community would be huge.”

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