Wickett said:“It’s not just dance parties. We have lots of parties,but we are a party with purpose.”
The party will occur amid a state election campaign,with NSW voters going to the polls on March 25. Key independent MP Alex Greenwichintends to use the event to extract commitments from the major parties on his LGBTQ rights bill while “the whole world is watching”.
In line with the city’s newfound penchant for street parties,the state government is contributing $3.5 million to shut down two blocks of Crown and Riley streets (between Oxford and Campbell streets) for nine days to create “pride villages”. For the final two days,Oxford Street itself will be closed to traffic between Hyde Park and Taylor Square.
A First Nations gala concert will be held at the Opera House,dubbed the “blak Met Gala”,while Carriageworks will be home to a First Nations gathering space over six nights. A 2500-person women’s event,the first of its kind at WorldPride,takes place at Sydney Town Hall.
Wickett confirmed the traditional Mardi Gras parade,held at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the past two years due to COVID-19,will return to its “spiritual home” along Oxford Street,though there will be extra activity at the Moore Park end.
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Other parts of Sydney and surrounds won’t miss out;there is a forthcoming arts and culture program in partnership with Campbelltown Arts Centre and western Sydney councils,and a fine dining night in Newcastle loosely modelled on le Diner en Blanc.
“It’s a full city takeover,” Wickett said. “It’s going to be a queer takeover,but it’s for everyone.”
The festival is book-ended by opening and closing concerts in the Domain. Organisers would not confirm headliners – a perennial Mardi Gras mystery – although it has been noted superstar Harry Styles is touring the country at the time,as is former Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes. Gay icon Kylie Minogue has also moved back to Australia.
Enterprise,Investment,Trade and Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said the event would deliver “an incredible boost to the state’s visitor economy” to the tune of more than $100 million,with many visitors likely to travel further afield before,during or after the festival.
Ayres said it would be “one of the biggest parties in Sydney’s history” and reinforce Sydney’s reputation as a global centre for the LGBTQ community.
WorldPride and the government also hope to permanently re-energise Sydney’s queer heartland around Oxford Street and Darlinghurst,which has suffered from years of lockout laws,pandemic,landlord intransigence,shopping malls and changing consumer behaviour.
An initiative called Pride Amplified will allow businesses,artists,producers and promoters to tie their own LGBTQ venues and events into the official program. Applications open this month.
Wickett is currently in the US spruiking Sydney WorldPride during Pride Month celebrations,and reminding partygoers that Sydney and Australia are “open for business” – contrary to the way the country was often portrayed earlier in the pandemic.
“There definitely was a perception[that Australia was closed] when I travelled earlier this year,” Wickett said. “But that’s definitely not the case.”
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