March 11, 2008
NSW Premier Morris Iemma and the Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore today announced First Night would become an integral part of the Sydney Festival calendar, with a major funding boost from the NSW Government and the City of Sydney.
The State and City will provide major funding increases to First Night, with the Iemma Government contributing $1.5 million a year (up from $1 million in 2008), while the City of Sydney will provide $500,000 (up from $200,000).
“The concept of a defined opening event for the Sydney Festival was trialled this year and proved an enormous success, with more than 200,000 people drawn into the Sydney CBD to enjoy a magical night of free entertainment and activities,” Mr Iemma said.
“The NSW Government and the City of Sydney co-founded the Sydney Festival in 1977, so it is only appropriate that the two levels of government work cooperatively to make the Festival even bigger and better,” Ms Moore said.
“First Night is about ensuring that Sydney remains a creative hub that can attract high-skill workers, investors and tourists,” Mr Iemma said.
“First Night will help revitalise our city streets and laneways in line with council’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision of a more vibrant, open and pedestrian-friendly city,” Ms Moore said.
Sydney Festival Artistic Director Fergus Linehan welcomed the announcement, saying that First Night 2008 was a huge success and it deserved to become a permanent part of the Sydney events calendar.
Mr Iemma said the NSW Government provided more than $5 million in total funding to the Sydney Festival, with the new $1.5 million from the Events NSW Budget.
Events NSW CEO Geoff Parmenter said First Night was precisely the sort of event that the corporation was established to support.
“This is about projecting Sydney as a global city and emphasising ‘Brand Sydney’ as a great place to live, work and visit,” Mr Parmenter said.
Media Contact: Premier’s Office: Alison Hill 0407 570 640