Council gives Inner West an EDGE over Vivid

Wednesday, 28 March 2018

Council has voted to give its arts scene a huge boost by rolling out a $600,000 program of street activations, light installations and live music events across the Inner West.

Council’s new EDGE arts program will capture the Inner West’s unique arts and creative culture, and is expected to become a major fixture on the Sydney arts calendar.

“The NSW Government wanted to charge Council more than $1.1 million to be part of Vivid Sydney. We’ve decided to tell them where to go with their ludicrous licensing fees and committed to create our own Inner West program of street activations instead,” said Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne.

“We have more people working in creative industries here in the Inner West than any region in Australia.

“We can create something that really captures the spirit of the Inner West for half the cost that the Government wants to squeeze out of ratepayers.

“EDGE will allow us to harness our community’s creativity and give emerging artists a platform to showcase their work,” said Mayor Byrne.

“We will also invite our arts and entertainment based businesses across the Inner West to be part of EDGE and ask them to help us design a rotating series of events, which will open up to the community our local enterprises.” 

Some of the concepts for EDGE activations include:

• Enlivening the Sydenham/Marrickville precinct with lights and window installations, street art showcases, live music events and street activations.
• Hosting projections of local histories and contemporary cultures on the walls of high-rise buildings in Ashfield’s Town Centre.
• Pairing experimental artists, environmental installations and light projections along Iron Cove Bay and Canal Road.
• Adding new contemporary festivals to complement the already successful Perfect Match and Open Studio Trail art installations along Newtown’s King Street.

Councillor Anna York, who moved the motion to create the festival, said she was delighted Council voted to support our creative communities and fund a major new arts experience in the Inner West.

“EDGE will involve an innovative program of installations and experiences across the five wards of Council, co-curated with existing local creative industries,” said Cr York.

“This exciting festival offers a wonderful opportunity for the Inner West to showcase and celebrate the work of our local artists, and to connect our broader community with them,” she said.

Council has committed to review EDGE and its art programs after its two-year pilot wraps up in 2020.