The inaugural Smart Light Sydney festival is set to light up the city’s urban landscape during the new 2009 ‘Vivid Sydney’ winter festival in June. The festival will include events for the general public and members of the creative industries.

The brainchild of Sydney-based lighting designer and music composer Mary-Anne Kyriakou [pictured below], the festival aims to showcase Australia’s creative talent, while educating the public and designers alike about efficient urban lighting design.

“Traditionally architecture defined a city, however it is the atmosphere that memory draws upon. Light and sound are integral parts of the cityscape – and this festival celebrates this exploration through the theme of city and memory,” says Kyriakou – also Creative Director of the festival.

The festival will be a celebration of lighting design, art and sound with a self-guided ‘Light Walk’ [mock-up images above and below] being organised along the city foreshore from Observatory Hill, to The Rocks, past the Museum of Contemporary Art and on to the Sydney Opera House.

“Smart Light is about using new light technologies with efficiency in order to reduce light pollution of the night sky whilst both creatively and attractively illuminating public spaces for the enjoyment of all,” says Kyriakou.

The festival will also be encouraging Sydneysiders to reduce light pollution during the festival by turning off unnecessary lighting to allow astronomy buffs at the Sydney Observatory to better observe the natural ‘lights’ in the night sky.

The Smart Light Sydney festival organisers are calling for anyone in the creative industries with an idea for a light art installation to submit their Expression of Interest before the end of the month. Contact info@smartlightsydney.com for more information.

smartlightsydney.com