Oxford Street is set to become Sydney's biggest outdoor arts stage with the legendary strip hosting a 3-day weekend of art, culture and creativity.
Free events will take over Oxford Street for 40 hours, from disco and drag to light installations and art. It all kicks off with the closure of Bourke Street at Taylor Square for a street party, where traffic will make way for an exciting space for dance performances, DJs, drag and roving entertainment.
From Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, the City of Sydney’s Art & About event will celebrate Oxford Street’s past and future by showcasing streets, public spaces, venues and shopfronts across the precinct.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said that the three-day event forms part of the City of Sydney’s broader vision to revitalise Oxford Street as a thriving cultural and creative precinct.
"Great cities are shaped by great streets, and Oxford Street has always been one of Sydney's most important cultural destinations,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said.
"While Oxford Street has experienced significant challenges in the past, the stars are aligning see this beloved strip reach its potential.
“Events like this give people a great reason to come celebrate the precinct’s creativity, culture and energy while discovering the exciting future taking shape across the precinct."
Festivities kick off on Friday evening with Bourke Street transformed into a pedestrian-friendly celebration space from 5pm to 10pm, hosting a disco-themed opening event complete with DJs, drag performances, dancing and roving entertainment.
The fun continues over the weekend with exhibitions, performances, workshops and installations paying tribute to Oxford Street's unique identity and the diverse communities that have shaped it.
At East Sydney Community and Arts Centre, visitors can experience contemporary performances including the camp cabaret Bavaria by Loose Canon Arts, one-woman play Crazing and Disco Never Dies by Dancekool featuring live dance, music and audience participation.
The centre will also host visual art experiences and participatory installations exploring connection, community and textile works honouring queer nightlife and First Nations culture.
A 24-hour interactive light installation will transform Taylor Square. Luminous Passage responds as people move through the space, with colours shifting and rippling across the installation, creating an ever-changing experience shaped by the crowd.
Free creative workshops, community activities and pop-up performances will give visitors opportunities to connect directly with artists and become part of the creative experience.
Visitors can also explore the Saturday farmers market featuring local produce, artisan goods, fresh flowers, retail, art, coffee and gourmet street food.
Complementary to the weekend’s activities, banner artworks throughout the precinct will highlight Oxford Street's history, diversity and LGBTQIA+ identity.
The Lord Mayor said that the City of Sydney continues to invest in projects that will support local businesses, attract visitors and honour the precinct's distinctive character.
“From cultural institutions and creative initiatives to restored heritage buildings and renewed public spaces, investment across the precinct is helping shape a more dynamic and welcoming future,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Recent streetscape upgrades, cultural initiatives such as QTOPIA and private development, including the restoration of more than 12,000 square meters of mixed retail and commercial space across three city blocks, are breathing new life into the precinct while elevating its distinctive heritage and character.
“Oxford Street has long been a place where culture, creativity and community come together. If it’s been a while since you’ve been out on this wonderful strip, come join us for this wonderful Art & About weekend and celebrate that spirit.”
For more information visit: whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Media contact: Elaine Kelly – phone 0477 362 550 or email ekelly@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact lordmayormedia@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au