Nine days of of celebrations to mark Art Gallery of NSW building opening

Grammy-nominated pop star Ellie Goulding will headline the Art for All concert, one of the highlights of the curated program set to run 3-11 December. Playing alongside Goulding in The Domain on 10 December will be Australian singer Meg Mac and the electronic duo Electric Fields.

Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin said the celebration will be a fitting way to mark the most significant cultural development  since the Sydney Opera House.

“The opening of the new Art Gallery of NSW building is a chance for everyone to celebrate the best of Sydney’s art and culture in The Domain precinct,” Mr Franklin said.

“We are excited to share this free nine-day program with Sydney and the world in this stunning new cultural destination, which opens in a month’s time.”

The celebrations include a spectacular artist-designed nightly drone show Art Up, created by Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie. The show will feature 400 drones animating artworks set to a soundtrack in the sky above the Art Gallery and Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

A series of public conversations between artists,  creatives, and other panelists  from around the world discussing ideas, challenges and innovations in art and culture will also take place, with speakers including Howie Tsui, Lisa Reihana, Adrián Villar Rojas, Christine Manfield, Matt Moran, Steven Oliver and Dame Quentin Bryce.

The event program will be a major visitor drawcard for Sydney, attracting more than 33,000 visitors to the Harbour City and delivering an anticipated $20 million into the NSW economy. It is part of the Summer in Sydney line-up of events expected to attract people to enjoy the city and deliver a boost to the local economy while supporting local hotels, bars, restaurants, tourism operators and small businesses.

To view the full program and book free tickets visit the Art Gallery of NSW