Sydney Lunar Festival Banner Gallery

We invite artists and creatives to design an outdoor public art installation for the 2023 festival celebrating the Year of the Rabbit.

Lunar Festival banners on poles celebrating the Year of the Tiger in 2022.

Sydney Lunar Festival

City of Sydney

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

We’re seeking to appoint up to 5 artists and creatives to design the Banner Gallery.

Applications are now closed

Successful concepts will use the street banner network throughout the city centre in a corridor-like effect along key thoroughfares, transit routes and business centres.

Sydney Lunar Festival is attended by more than 1.3 million people each year and celebrates the city’s diverse cultural communities.

The 2023 Lunar New Year celebrations include Chinatown Lanterns, Lunar Lanterns on George Street, Lunar Lanes in Chinatown, Dragon Boat Races and an exciting program of more than 80 associated events.

The Banner Gallery will be exhibited from 16 January to 5 February 2023.

Application guidelines

Your concept for the Banner Gallery should:

reflect the Year of the Rabbit or draw inspiration from one of the communities that celebrate the Lunar New Year
be highly engaging and appeal to a broad audience
demonstrate artistic excellence, innovation, and a creative approach
be designed in line with the banner specifications
consider the sequencing of banners with up to 6 designs permitted in each banner gallery location.

The Banner Gallery will be presented within existing creative and design elements. Note, the installation will include generic 2023 Sydney Lunar Festival banners.

Banner Gallery locations and banner types:

Alfred Street, Circular Quay: located along the light rail line, ‘A type banner poles’ are used in this zone.
George Street north, Sydney: between Alfred Street and Angel Place, ‘A type banner poles’ are used in this zone.
George Street centre, Sydney: from Martin Place to Bathurst Street, ‘A type banner poles’ are used in this zone.
Liverpool Street, Sydney: Adjoining Korea Town, ‘A type banner poles’ are used in this zone.
Hay Street, Haymarket: Adjoining Thai Town and framing Belmore Park, ‘Standard banner poles’ are used in this zone.

Street banner network information

Banner guidePDF · 817.55 KB · Last modified 3 June 2022

Banner specificationsPDF · 234.39 KB · Last modified 3 June 2022

The City of Sydney will provide the following:

project management of the banner gallery
printing and production of all banner gallery artwork banners
installation and dismantling of banner gallery artwork banners
production of all publicity and promotional materials.

A total fee of $5,000 plus GST will be payable to each successful artist/creative in 2 instalments:
1. $2,000 plus GST upon successfully developing and finalising the banner gallery design concept, including supplying re-sized artwork, if required.
2. $3,000 plus GST upon successful completion of the final print-ready artwork received and sent to printers for test printing. This includes liaising, troubleshooting and resolving any artwork issues raised by the printer. The supplier will also be required to complete a short evaluation report to provide feedback on the application and artwork submission process, and general comments about the experience. The project fee is payable to each successful artist/creative. Up to 5 artists/creatives will be appointed for the Banner Gallery.
The project will be paid for and managed by the City of Sydney.

Artists may be invited to participate in events and presentations held as part of the exhibition.

There is no entitlement to reimbursement of any costs or expenses further than the project fee.
Proposals will be evaluated in line with the following criteria:
- creative approach
- innovation of Banner Gallery concept
- relevance to the celebration of Sydney Lunar Festival and demonstrated artist connection to a community that celebrates the Lunar New Year
- calibre and experience of the artist/team
- likely quality of audience experience.

Cultural support & fundingSydney Lunar Festival Chinatown Lanterns

Cultural support & fundingSydney Lunar Festival George Street Lunar Lanterns

Sydney Lunar Festival Banner Gallery