January 19 - 26, 2000 For three weeks every January, Sydney comes alive with an Arts Festival. Residents and visitors alike delight in an exciting and exhilarating arts extravaganza of music, dance, performing and visual arts. In summer the Sydney Festival takes over the city with events in venues such as the Sydney Opera House, Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens, Queen Victoria Building, Town Hall, St James Church, Darling Harbour to name just a few. In 1998 Sydney Festival, grew in scope, size, appeal and presence under the new direction of Leo Schofield. By the turn of the century, the Festival will be clearly positioned as indispensable to the cultural life of Sydney and one of the key highlights of the 2000 celebrations. In 1999 Sydney Festival was more broadbased, diverse and accessible. In a spectacular start to the New Year, the Festival presented more than 800 artists presenting 247 performances and 175 visual arts exhibition days to an audience of well over two million. Over 120 of these performances and exhibition days were free. Participating in the largest Festival to date were over sixty companies including 12 international companies presenting all forms of dance, music, theatre and outdoor events.
		The Sydney Festival program aims to be everything to everyone; diverse, entertaining and accessible - a true celebration of Sydney's beauty, energy and ambition. From the enormously successful free outdoor concerts such as Symphony in the Domain and Jazz in the Domain to orchestras, circuses, internationally acclaimed theatre and visual arts. Artists from all over the world premiere new works alongside important new Australian commissions. Music from baroque opera to country and western and jazz play in our concert halls. Visual art exhibitions from overseas and local artists adorn our galleries as well as the streets of the city. Forums and discussions will enable Festival participants to talk with artists from the four corners of the globe, cross cultural experience of the highest degree. Visitors are able to take part in Festival activities throughout the day and night, whether that be a walk in the gardens or grooving at the Festival Club after an evening performance. CONTACT Sydney Festival 36-38 Young St Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Telephone: +61 2 8248 6500 Facsimile: +61 2 8248 6599 Email: mail@sydneyfestival.org.au www.sydneyfestival.org.au Director - Leo Schofield Deputy Director - Brett Sheehy Manager, Marketing and Communications Virginia Lovett Email: vlovett@sydneyfestival.org.au