NEW AND FREE VIVID SYDNEY DIGITAL TOOLS TO HELP LIGHT THE WAY DURING VIVID SYDNEY

Visitors to this year’s Vivid Sydney will be able to follow trails curated by famous Australians – including film maker and Strictly Ballroom Musical Director Baz Luhrmann, former Socceroo Tim Cahill and the NSW Blues State of Origin team – by logging onto the new vividsydney.com website.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Andrew Stoner said these well-known Australians are all fans of Sydney’s annual festival of light, music and ideas, and jumped at the chance to take people on a journey of their favourite Vivid Sydney attractions by creating their own VividTrail.

“Other ambassador trails have been curated by: Ten Eyewitness News presenter Sandra Sully; Vivid Sydney Creative Director Ignatius Jones; Vivid Ideas Festival Director Jess Scully; columnist Melissa Hoyer; as well as Instagrammer extraordinaire Lauren Bath,” Mr Stoner said

"Visitors will be able to follow the curated paths through Vivid Sydney’s light installations by using VividTrails, and then connect with social media friends and followers who can take the same path.

“The new website will also include a brand new tool called MyVivid, which will allow people to personalise their Vivid Sydney experience by selecting what’s of interest to them and creating their own profile.

“Their 'Light, Music and Ideas’ selections will then follow them on any device if they create a profile on the vividsydney.com website.

In addition to the new website people will also be able to download two apps: Vivid Sydney and a brand new one called VividSnap. Both these can be downloaded for free at vividsydney.com and are also available in the Apple and Android App stores.

“VividSnap allows you to capture and share perfect shots of Vivid Sydney and then add light art, words and special effects to share with your family and friends," Mr Stoner said.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said that MyVivid, VividSnap and VividTrails would build on Vivid Sydney’s existing social media footprint while making the festival experience even more interactive.

“We have ensured Vivid Sydney already has a strong social media presence which encompasses Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, and this year Vivid Sydney’s new digital tools are set to take this to the next level, encouraging people to immerse themselves in everything the festival has to offer,” she said.

The making of VividSnap, a partnership with Destination NSW, IRIS Worldwide and Canon Australia, will also feature in a ‘behind the scenes’ film, shot for Vivid Ideas by renowned outdoor photographer Chris Bray, to be shown at the MCA at 8pm Friday, 6 June.

For more information about MyVivid, VividSnap and VividTrails go to: vividsydney.com