Project purpose

To seek community feedback on the priorities and goals for the Sydney Olympic Park Authority's Events and Activations Grant Funding Program for 2021-2022.

Scroll down to Have Your Say section to provide your input. Consultation closes Friday 31 December 2021.

Please use the “+ FOLLOW” button at the top of this project page if you wish to be kept informed on the project outcomes and updates.

Project background

Sydney Olympic Park is known not only as Australia’s leading events precincts for sporting, cultural, environmental and recreational visitor experiences and major events, but is now also home to a growing number of residents, workers and students.

In 2019 we announced our Events and Activations Grant Funding Program which invites applicants to demonstrate how they might transform, illuminate, activate and enhance the identity of public places in Sydney Olympic Park.

Throughout 2019 we carried out community, stakeholder and staff consultations via events and meetings to learn and understand the needs and expectations of local residents and workers. This information helped in developing goals and criteria for the events and activations we fund through the program.

This criteria included:

• Vibrancy and activity with things to do and see
• Bring joy, colour and a spirit of fun
• Strengthen community ownership and a sense of belonging in Sydney Olympic Park
• Drive visitation from surrounding regions to explore and discover Sydney Olympic Park
• Support local business recovery by inviting locals and visitors from nearby communities and across Sydney to spend more time in our public spaces
• Spark social connections
• Deliver innovative ideas that encourage people to meet, connect and discover
• Encourage and inspire social inclusion, cultural diversity and community well-being

The community, local businesses and third-party event organisers were asked to submit ideas for events and activations.

Grant funding of between $500 to $20,000 was made available to selected applicants by SOPA. Since then the first projects funding via the program have started rolling out across the Park.

These include:

• Sports Stars school holiday workshops (Jan 2021)
• Sydney Vegan Market (Jan 2021)
• Summer Garden Festival at Abattoir Blues (Jan 2021)
• Deco Park Picnic on Valentine’s Day (Feb 2021)
• Roll interactive artwork in Jacaranda Square (Mar 2021)
• International Women’s Day event, including performances by Lolo Lovina (Mar 2021)
• WOMEN Media Arts and Film Festival (Mar 2021), also formed part of International Women's Day events
• Autumn Garden Festival at Abattoir Blues (Mar 2021)

A number of other activations have been funded to improve the local community experience.

These include:

• Great Southern Nights (Nov 2020)
• Murals in Jacaranda Square and Pop-up Park, cnr Australia and Herb Elliott Ave (Jan 2021)
• Snakes and Ladders, interactive work at Station Square (Mar 2021)
• Lunar Lane food market, celebrating Lunar New Year (Feb 2021)

For more information on the above see Homify community engagement project and 2020-21 Events and Activations.

We want to ensure we're funding and producing Events and Activations that respond to the local community's needs and aspirations for Sydney Olympic Park. You can help by letting us know which events you most like to celebrate. Your feedback will be used in accordance with our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your priorities will be considered in assessing the expressions of interest for the 2021-22 grant funding round. Consultation closes Friday 31 December 2021.

Please use the “+ FOLLOW” button at the top of this project page if you wish to be kept informed on the project outcomes and updates.