Enlighten Canberra

Enlighten Canberra
Genre Exhibition
Date(s) February–March
Frequency Annually
Location(s) Canberra
Coordinates 35°18′29″S 149°07′28″E / 35.3081°S 149.1244°ECoordinates: 35°18′29″S 149°07′28″E / 35.3081°S 149.1244°E
Inaugurated 2011
Attendance 131,500 (2014)[1]
Budget $5.3 million over four years (2011 to 2014)[2]
Website
http://enlightencanberra.com.au/

Enlighten Canberra is an outdoor annual art and cultural festival featuring illuminating light installations and projections, performances from local and interstate musicians, dining and film events.

The festival is an ACT Government initiative held annually in early March, encouraging people to "See Canberra in a whole new light."[3] The centrepiece of Enlighten Canberra is the illuminating of Canberra's cultural institutions after dark, including Old Parliament House, Questacon and the National Gallery of Australia.[4][5][6] There is also live music, film screenings and after-hours tours.[7][8]

Since its inception, Enlighten has become increasingly popular, attracting 115,000 visitors in 2013,[9][10][11] and 131,500 in 2014,[1] despite poor weather.[12]

History of the event

A projection on the National Library of Australia during the 2012 Enlighten festival
A projection on the National Library of Australia during the 2012 Enlighten festival

The beginnings of Enlighten could be said to be 2008, when ACT Labor made an election promise to deliver a new autumn event for Canberra.[13][14] In December 2010, Andrew Barr, ACT Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, announced Enlighten would be a major annual event, commencing in March 2011.[15]

In its first year, along with other events, Enlighten hosted rock band INXS,[16] jazz guitarist George Benson,[17] and world-music supergroup Afro Celt Sound System.[18] To help promote Enlighten, INXS arrived in Canberra in a helicopter, landing on the lawns of Old Parliament House two weeks before their concert appearance.[19] INXS band member Kirk Pengilly told reporters that the show planned for Enlighten 2011 was "probably the biggest production that we've put on at any show in Australia."[20]

Despite the big-ticket performances and media stunts, the inaugural festival cost $2.4 million,[21] and there was poor community interest,[22][23] with just 8600 visitors.[24] The first Enlighten did however attract 2400 visitors from interstate or overseas who came to Canberra specifically for Enlighten or extended their stay because of it.[25]

In its second year, Enlighten was made a part of the Canberra Festival.[26][27] The merging of the festivals was met with criticism from the Canberra Liberals, with Brendan Smyth describing the Labor Government's attempt to create a new festival as "embarrassing".[28] The Enlighten entertainment lineup featured in the 2012 event was scaled back significantly from the 2011 event to instead feature local Canberra artists.[29] Of the nearly 100 artists contracted to perform in the 2012 festival, 53 per cent were local artists, paid 11.5 per cent of the Enlighten programming budget that year.[30]

Questcaon at Enlighten 2014
A 2014 Enlighten projection on Questacon

In 2013, Enlighten hosted a spiegeltent, which put on dozens of shows featuring comics, acrobats and musicians.[31][32] The festival also included Canberra's first Dîner en Blanc, a pop-up picnic in which all guests dress in white and bring their own food, table, table-setting and chair.[33] More than 700 people attended the picnic, the third Dîner en Blanc to be held in Australia.[34]

The creative director for Enlighten 2014 was Peter Milne, he had also worked on the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.[35]

In November 2014, the ACT Government announced the Night Noodle Markets would be coming to Canberra during the Enlighten Festival in 2015.[36] ACT Tourism Minister Andrew Barr told media that Canberra's Night Noodle Markets were expected to host up to 25 hawker style food stalls,[37] and that the ACT Government had committed $200,000 to bring the 2015 noodle markets to the city.[38] Around 156,000 peoples visited the inaugural Enlighten Night Noodle Markets—of whom 24,000 visited on the opening night.[39]

Budget, attendance and visitor expenditure

Enlighten attendance, budget and visitor expenditure
Year Dates Attendance Event budget Visitor direct expenditure References
2011 11, 12, 18 and 19 March 8,600 $1,500,000 $600,000 [40][21]
2012 2, 3, 9 and 10 March 30,000 $1,248,000 $300,000 [40][41][42]
2013 1 to 9 March 115,000 (estimated) $1,100,000 $650,000 [40][9][43]
2014 28 February to 8 March 131,500 (estimated) $1,200,000 $2,300,000 [40][43]
2015 27 February to 7 March (estimated) $1,300,000 [43]

Environmental impact

Entrance to Old Parliament House during Enlighten 2013
Entrance to Old Parliament House during Enlighten 2013

In 2012, projections for Enlighten were predominantly powered using diesel generators and consumed 2423 litres of diesel, resulting in an estimated 7.0 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.[44]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 McIlroy, Tom (9 May 2014). "Record crowds at this year's Enlighten Festival". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 25 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Barr, Andrew (23 December 2010). "Flower power - report confirms biggest Floriade ever" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 March 2014.
  3. ↑ New event launched to 'Enlighten' Canberra, Spice News, 14 December 2010, archived from the original on 8 April 2011
  4. ↑ Barr, Andrew (15 January 2014). "Enlighten 2014 set to illuminate the capital" (Press release). Archived from the original on 19 February 2014.
  5. ↑ Pyror, Sally (1 February 2013). "Festival's principle focus is to enlighten the locals". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 19 February 2014.
  6. ↑ Barr, Andrew (1 February 2013). "Enlighten to light up Canberra nights this autumn" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 May 2013.
  7. ↑ Wescott, Ben (28 February 2014). "Festival set to enlighten Canberra". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 8 March 2014.
  8. ↑ Parliament House Celebrates Enlighten, Australian Parliament House, 2014, archived from the original on 8 March 2014
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Barr, Andrew (22 May 2013), Enlighten, The total attendance figure for Enlighten - See Canberra in a whole new light 2013 was 115,031, an increase of 290% on last year’s figure of 29,437.
  10. ↑ Barr, Andrew (23 May 2013). "Enlighten 2013 draws record breaking crowds" (Press release).
  11. ↑ Enlighten 2013: Key findings, ACT Government, archived from the original on 5 February 2014
  12. ↑ Nicholson, Larissa (3 March 2014). "Hopes for Enlighten record not dampened by forecast rain". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 8 March 2014.
  13. ↑ Smyth, Brendan (9 February 2012). "Enlighten downgraded to a subsidiary event" (Press release).
  14. ↑ Gallagher, Katy (25 September 2012), $12 million to support jobs and boost tourism, archived from the original on 10 April 2013
  15. ↑ Barr, Andrew (13 December 2010). "New event to light up Canberra’s autumn nights" (Press release). Archived from the original on 8 March 2011.
  16. ↑ Gallagher, Katy (27 January 2011). "Australian music legends INXS will rock Canberra this March" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 March 2014.
  17. ↑ Stanhope, Jon (15 February 2011). "Jimmy Barnes to rock Canberra's birthday concert" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 March 2014.
  18. ↑ Stanhope, Jon (20 January 2011). "World=music sensation to kick off first Enlighten" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 March 2014.
  19. ↑ "Media joy meets INXS helicopter". 27 January 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014.
  20. ↑ "INXS to headline autumn festival". Australian Broadcasting Commission. 28 January 2011. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Barr enlightens Oppn on festival". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). 10 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 November 2014.
  22. ↑ Thomson, Phillip (2 March 2014). "Enlighten Festival sets record for opening night". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 8 March 2014.
  23. ↑ Enlighten festival ticket sales 'lacklustre', 27 May 2011, archived from the original on 8 March 2014
  24. ↑ Griffiths, John (27 May 2011), Enlighten reports on 2011, RiotACT
  25. ↑ Barr, Andrew (27 May 2011). "Event helps people see Canberra in a whole new light" (Press release). Archived from the original on 8 March 2014.
  26. ↑ Barr, Andrew (1 March 2012). "Enlighten begins tomorrow" (Press release). Archived from the original on 27 January 2014.
  27. ↑ Barr, Andrew (9 December 2011). "New look Enlighten 2012 sure to delight locals and tourists" (Press release). Archived from the original on 4 February 2014.
  28. ↑ "Enlighten festival 'embarrassing', says Smyth". City News. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014.
  29. ↑ Barr, Andrew (15 February 2012). "Parliamentary Triangle gets Enlightened" (Press release). Archived from the original on 4 February 2014.
  30. ↑ Andrew Barr, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (22 March 2012). "Enlighten festival—local artists (Question No 2090)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Australian Capital Territory: ACT Legislative Assembly. p. 1247. Archived from the original on 28 November 2014.
  31. ↑ Thomson, Phillip (3 March 2013). "Electricity in the tent of mirrors". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 4 March 2013.
  32. ↑ Musa, Helen (27 February 2013). "Enlighten's monumental moment". City News. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014.
  33. ↑ "A secretive phenomenon". The Senior. 10 February 2013. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014.
  34. ↑ "In the white mood for festival fun". City News. 3 March 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013.
  35. ↑ Doherty, Megan (18 February 2014). "Enlighten festival: Come paint the town red and blue and ...". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 19 February 2014.
  36. ↑ Rudra, Natasha (19 November 2014). "Night Noodle Markets come to Canberra for Enlighten 2015". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 28 November 2014.
  37. ↑ Barr, Andrew (20 November 2014). "ENLIGHTEN Night Noodle Markets coming in 2015" (Press release). Archived from the original on 28 November 2014.
  38. ↑ Rudra, Natasha (20 November 2014). "Fairfax Night Noodle Markets launch at Malamay". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 28 November 2014.
  39. ↑ Rudra, Natasha (13 March 2015). "156,000 Canberrans flock to Enlighten Night Noodle Markets 2015". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 14 March 2015.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 Enlighten Event Report, ACT Government, 2014, archived from the original on 28 November 2014
  41. ↑ Andrew Barr, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (21 March 2013). "Increasing visitation to Canberra". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Australian Capital Territory: ACT Legislative Assembly. p. 1253. Archived from the original on 28 November 2014.
  42. ↑ Andrew Barr, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (21 March 2013). "Economic Development Directorate—Territory Venues & Events (Question No 83)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Australian Capital Territory. p. 1885. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 2013–14 Budget Paper No. 3: Expenditure Initiatives, ACT Government, p. 138, archived from the original on 29 November 2014
  44. ↑ Andrew Barr, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (24 August 2012). "Enlighten Festival—power use (Question No 2285)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Australian Capital Territory: ACT Legislative Assembly. p. 3705. Archived from the original on 28 November 2014.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Enlighten Canberra.