In case you missed it, Sydney is getting a brand-new 24-hour arts and culture festival catered exclusively to night owls. Live theatre, street art, magic shows, food trucks and dance parties are on the cards. The Sydney Eye Hospital, the State Library and many surrounding institutions are also set to participate with fun and whimsical events organised throughout the stretch of Macquarie Street. As part of the program, The Mint — Australia’s oldest surviving public building, is also getting in on the action. The historical landmark will showcase local plants and flowers as they were on the Gadigal land. At night the building will transform into a glow-in-the-dark garden with flower sculptures on display and live music to keep you entertained.
The Mint, glow-in-the-dark garden
Starting at 6 pm on February 4 and lasting for a full 24 hours, visitors will get the unique opportunity to walk through a pop-up Australian flora market and see a number of native flowers and plants up close. As the sun sets, The Mint and its surroundings will turn into a neon playground with photo-luminescent plants glowing in the dark.
Floral artist Cecile Keogh is creating a floral art exhibition in the form of a giant owl using a mix of native flowers and plants. The exhibit will be on display to enjoy throughout the event and will also glow in the dark once the night sets in.
Tatiana Bovlova will be creating life-sized silhouettes made of flowers standing or sitting alone as a study on nighttime loneliness.
Plus expect a series of engaging floral talks and workshops at The Mint where you can take your love of florals to new heights. Develop your own floral installation with Sydney wedding florist Cecile Keogh who will host a fun and interactive floral demonstration with tips on flower care, elements of design and how to develop a floral installation. Bess Scott, a Paddington-based Florist and expert in native flowers, will also be on-site for not one but two workshops, namely a Fresh Native Flower Arranging workshop and a Dried Native Flower Arranging workshop.
And there’s more. You can also learn more about First Nations culture, food and heritage from the multiple workshops and talks organised by Bush to Bowl — a social enterprise focused on educating the wider community about Aboriginal culture. Tickets go on sale on January 18, mark your calendars. Get all the details here.