Global Cities After Dark Sydney announces full program for 2021

Global Cities After Dark Sydney has today announced the full program for this year's conference held in March and presented by VibeLab Asia Pacific. The week-long event will bring together local state government and industry stakeholders to discuss future-proofing Sydney's 24-hour economy, with an entire evening dedicated to major events and tourism.

2021 Global Cities After Dark Sydney is sponsored by the NSW Government, City of Sydney and Powerhouse Museum through the Powerhouse NSW Creative Industries Residency Program. The sector specific workshops are created in collaboration with Night Time Industries Association (Hospitality) and MusicNSW.  

Each night of the program from Monday 22nd March to Thursday 25th March will have a different sector focus, with Global Cities After Dark concluding on Friday 26th March with ‘Celebrate Local’ - a music and culinary event held at Maton: Australia’s Guitar at Powerhouse Museum Sydney.

Global Cities After Dark Sydney signifies the first time Sydney’s night-time economy sector has come together since the pandemic to actively plan for the implementation of the NSW Government 24-Hour Economy Strategy. The program focuses on the following sectors within Sydney’s night-time economy:

●  Hospitality

●  Live Music and Entertainment

●  Major Events and Tourism

●  Transport and Health & Safety

NSW Minister for Tourism, Stuart Ayres notes “as we support and champion a safe, prosperous and vibrant 24-hour economy in Sydney, it’s vital local state government and the industry at large work together collaboratively.

“Global Cities After Dark presents a week-long opportunity to fast-track discussions, workshop ideas and rebuild constructively at scale.

“Sydney’s night-time economy has been particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. But as we cautiously begin our recovery and shake off the last of the lockouts this month, we have a renewed opportunity to work together to create the safe, diverse and exciting nightlife that a global city like Sydney deserves.

“We are proud to once again financially support the Global Cities After Dark forum, now in its fifth year, and I am pleased to see it go ahead in a COVIDSafe way.”

Meow Wolf Founder and international keynote speaker at the event, Vince Kadlubek adds “Sydney's nightlife scene has unlimited potential given the city's incredible economy and emerging youth movements. It feels like a bunch of fireworks waiting for the right spark. After recovering from COVID Sydney has an incredible opportunity to take advantage of its global position.”

Michael Rodrigues - inaugural NSW 24-hour Economy Commissioner and former chair of the Night Time Industries Association highlighted that “since its inaugural conference in 2017, Global Cities After Dark has been a catalyst for change in the narrative surrounding Sydney's nightlife. I look forward to participating in this year's conference as we look to unlock the potential of Sydney's night-time economy and in so doing accelerate our recovery from the pandemic.”

MusicNSW Managing Director, Emily Collins also commented “Nightlife in Sydney is at such an exciting turning point. A perfect storm is brewing, with governments and industry aligned like never before, and music, art and good business at its core. Sydney is about to have its phoenix rising moment, and that's an exciting thing to be a part of.”

On Friday 26th March, the Global Cities After Dark week-long program concludes with the ‘Celebrate Local’ closing event - a live music, performance and culinary experience. It is the first opportunity since the pandemic that brings the key stakeholders and actors within Sydney’s Night-Time Economy together. ‘Celebrate Local’ focuses on the roadmap ahead in 2021 as Sydney embarks on the implementation of the NSW 24-Hour Economy Strategy, marking a new chapter in Sydney’s life after dark. The event will be hosted by ABC Radio presenter Robbie Buck at Maton: Australia’s Guitar at Powerhouse Museum Sydney.

For information on the full program of keynotes, sector-specific workshops and think-tanks go to globalcitiesafterdark.com/

Participation in the workshops is free with registration with limited capacity due to COVID safety restrictions. To register, visit globalcitiesafterdark.com/sector-workshops

Tickets are on sale now for ‘Celebrate Local’ closing event with limited capacity due to COVID safety restrictions. For more information and to purchase, please visit events.ticketbooth.com.au/event/celebrate-local-dinner.