Vivid, Sydney’s annual winter festival of lights will this year shine a spotlight on the city’s restaurants and food providores, with Vivid Food, a new feature of its 23-night program.

From Friday May 26 until Saturday June 17, CBD venues will be lit up, and some will feature a variety of culinary experiences, from pop-up restaurants to haute cuisine celebrating the city’s diverse food culture.

The new Vivid Food, will join Vivid Light, Vivid Music and Vivid Ideas as the fourth pillar of the 14th festival, aiming to deliver world-class culinary talent and a hoped-for mid-year boon for the hospitality industry.

It will pair with the usual 3D light displays, including work by First Nations artist Maree Clarke (pictured) which will be projected on the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Melbourne-based Clarke, a Yorta Yorta, Wamba Wamba, Mutti Mutti, Boonwurrung artist, has created Barerarerungar which means ‘Country’ in Boonwurrung to pay tribute to traditional practices on Country.

Jen Lewin’s The Last Ocean to feature in Vivid 2023.Credit:Destination NSW

American artist and engineer Jen Lewin will create Vivid’s largest ever installation at Barangaroo’s Stargazer Lawn. The Last Ocean, an interactive, tessellated ‘ice sheet’ made of recycled ocean plastic that shifts colour and shape when walked on, debuted at Nevada’s Burning Man in 2022.

Another new feature of Vivid 2023 will be Lightscape, a 2.1km 3D journey beneath towering tree canopies in The Royal Botanic Garden, which has already been on display in the US, UK and Melbourne.

Lightscape, at The Royal Botanic Garden will feature as part of Vivid 2023.Credit:Destination NSW

The Light Walk will return in 2023, with more than 49 light installations and 3D projections along the 8.5 kilometre illuminated walk.

Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said Vivid Sydney was one of Australia’s best events and a vital economic driver for NSW during the winter months.

“Vivid Sydney is NSW’s biggest annual event and makes a vital social and economic contribution to our state. From our creative industries to entertainment and hospitality venues, accommodation and retailers, it supports and creates jobs across the NSW economy,” Franklin said.

“Last year Vivid Sydney was attended by over 2.5 million people and injected $119 million into the NSW economy. With international borders fully reopening, we’re anticipating this year’s festival to be our biggest and best yet.”

At Tuesday’s Vivid Sydney 2023 festival launch, director Gill Minervini said this year’s festival would raise the bar even higher than past events.

“We are proud to have curated an impressive collection of local and international artists and food creatives to provide Vivid Sydney audiences with new and exciting experiences,” Ms Minervini said.

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