KEEPING THE LIGHTS BRIGHT FOR ART AND CULTURE
Sydney’s night-time arts and culture scene will receive a boost with nine organisations ready to keep their doors open after dark, attracting new audiences to the CBD and driving economic activity.
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Alister Henskens said the latest $3.6 million Culture Up Late series, part of the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s $50 million CBDs Revitalisation Program, aims to strengthen the continued recovery of Greater Sydney.
“Our investment in Culture Up Late since 2021 has supported more than 1,020 events and activities across 531 nights, attracted more than 190,000 visitors and championed 2,661 artists and 1,734 arts workers,” Mr Henskens said.
“Culture Up Late unlocks our city’s incredible assets, drawing more visitors to our much-loved museums, galleries and performance spaces, and helping to drive our wider efforts to build a sustainable night-time economy and cement Sydney as a rich cultural destination.”
From now until September, select venues, museums and galleries will regularly stay open until 9pm, offering world-class exhibitions, live music and DJ sets, film screenings, workshops and talks, complemented by pop-up bars and dining opportunities.
Minister for the Arts and Tourism Ben Franklin said the expanded initiative benefits art lovers and supports employment opportunities for an industry hit hard by the pandemic.
“Following record investment in our iconic cultural institutions, we want to keep the lights on longer and enable wider access to our very best experiences, as well as providing new opportunities for performers, creatives and arts workers,” Mr Franklin said.
“Arts and cultural events are major economic drivers and drawcards to the CBD. We are delighted to offer more people more access to unforgettable exhibitions, performances and festivals through this fantastic initiative.”
Guests at the opening of the North Building, Sydney Modern Project at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on November 30, 2022, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Joshua Morris
NSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said Culture Up Late delivers on the government’s 24-Hour Economy Strategy, which commits to extending opening hours for cultural institutions.
“Previous iterations of Culture Up Late have demonstrated that Sydneysiders will head to galleries and museums when the sun goes down, if their doors are open. This ongoing investment will continue to support our major institutions in their various stages of developing after-hours business models,” Mr Rodrigues said.
“Whether it’s a quick stop with friends after work, a post school activity before family dinner, or as part of a night on the town, Culture Up Late gives folk some flexibility when it comes to their entertainment choices.”
The nine organisations taking part in this series of Culture Up Late are:
- Art Gallery of NSW – Art After Hours every Wednesday night is a series of events and exhibitions across the North and South buildings.
- Australian Museum – Hintze Hall will be transformed into a social hub of live music, entertainment, pop-up bars and more every Wednesday for Nights at the Museum.
- Carriageworks – Get behind-the-scenes access every Thursday night with Carriageworks Social, a bespoke series of up-late art, performances, live music and food events.
- Museum of Contemporary Art Australia – MCA Late is a free program of artist talks, studio sessions and large-scale activations every Friday night.
- Museums of History NSW – Discover the incredible sites and stories of the city’s museums with free talks, tours and performances each Wednesday or Thursday
- National Art School – Explore the revamped Darlinghurst Gaol with NAS NEO, free collaborative artmaking and immersive experiences on the last Friday of each month.
- Powerhouse Ultimo – Every Thursday, Powerhouse Late brims with live music, performances, talks and workshops with a focus on creative industries and current exhibits.
- State Library of NSW – Celebrate curiosity and creativity with a monthly series of musical performances, drawing and painting workshops, and talks showcasing new Australian writers.
- Sydney Opera House – Mark the icon’s 50th anniversary with live outdoor music and pop-up performances, plus collaborations with Museum of Sydney (Thursdays) and MCA (Fridays).
Find out more about the program at www.investment.nsw.gov.au/CultureUpLate.
