Parramatta to be a major player in 2013 Sydney Festival (NSW)

An Art Nouveau Spiegeltent will be erected in Parramatta’s Prince Alfred Park next January as the centre of the Festival in Parramatta.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris, said the 2012 Sydney Festival events in Western Sydney proved so popular that organisers have again planned an expanded programme for the 2013 festival.

The NSW Government is providing almost $6.3 million towards the staging of the three-week Sydney Festival from January 5-27, Mr Souris said.

Mr Souris pointed out that the Premier and Minister for Western Sydney, Mr O’Farrell, made a pre-election commitment that Western Sydney would be hosting its own major events and this is part of that commitment.

“More than 30,000 people attended events in Western Sydney during the 2012 Festival with about 15 per cent of attendees to events in Parramatta living within the local government area.

“Events staged in Parramatta during the 2012 Festival also benefited the local economy, with an estimated $1.3 million spent by the large majority of attendees who lived outside of the local government area.

“NSW Government support is helping to grow a creative, diverse and strong arts and cultural sector in Western Sydney that encourages excellence and innovation and boosts the local economy,” Mr Souris said.

Member for Parramatta, Geoff Lee, said: “It is great news that the people of Western Sydney will once again enjoy their own programme of arts and cultural events in their own backyard and the community will reap the economic benefits”.

Key features of the 2013 Sydney Festival Parramatta programme:

• Events in Parramatta begin with a family friendly, free ‘Parramatta Opening Party’ extravaganza on Saturday January 19. Prince Alfred Park, the Parade Ground at Old King’s, Church Street and public space in and around the Riverside Theatres will be transformed by street theatre, music and activities throughout the afternoon and evening.
• Ticketed events will be located in both Riverside Theatres and The Salon Perdu, Parramatta’s very own Art Nouveau Spiegeltent based in the Parramatta Festival Garden in Prince Alfred Park.
• The Sydney Festival program in Parramatta will finish on Australia Day with a soulful closing night concert at The Parade Ground at Old Kings, following Parramatta City Council’s 27th Australia Day celebrations.