Thursday 17th November, marked the start of a new and important chapter in the life of Sydney’s iconic Mardi Gras, with the launch of a new name, logo and community-wide proposition designed to capture the event’s embracing vision as a city-wide celebration of the power and the beauty of diversity.

This memorable day was also a celebration and an acknowledgment of over three decades of successful Mardi Gras events that have helped advance the law reform agenda, and at the same time, increased community respect and love for the LBGTQI community.

In a parallel move, the organisation has changed its name back to Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras after almost ten years as New Mardi Gras. The move to the old moniker is in recognition that the event and brand remains owned by the city’s gay & lesbian community, even as it embraces involvement from the wider community.

Along with the new name and new approach, a new logo has been introduced. The logo speaks to the events’ desire to inspire the world to love each other by celebrating the power and beauty of diversity.

In other Mardi Gras news, the Sydney Mardi Gras Festival is set to explode with a wealth of big-name talents, including RuPaul, Dame Edna Experience, Trevor Ashley and Sneaky Sound System gracing the annual smorgasbord of arts, parties and social events, from 12 February till 4 March 2012.

This year’s Mardi Gras Festival boasts over 60 special events – including iconic event favourites like the Parade, Fair Day and Harbour party – and features performances from big international acts as well as the cream of community and homegrown talent.

The team at mixitup are proud to be apart of the Mardi Gras extravaganza for the fifth consecutive year and in 2012 we welcome back returning major sponsors; ANZ, Google, Virgin Australia and Gaydar.

To find out how your brand can get involved in the 2012 festivities click here.

It’s summer time in Sydney and nothing makes the city shine more than the world famous Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras!

This year’s festival is bigger and bolder than the last with stars like Lily Tomlin, Armistead Maupin, Calvin Harris and Peter Tatchell helping celebrate. The two week festival program consists of over 80 events, with all roads leading to the world renowned Parade on March 5^th.

This year's Parade is being overseen by one of the world’s biggest event powerhouses, Ignatius Jones (Sydney Olympics Ceremonies, 2010 Winter Olympics Ceremonies, 2010 World Expo Shanghai). As Artistic Director, he’s set to bring his flair, fearless grand plans and his artistic genius to create a Parade like no other.

To view the full range of exciting events across the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras calendar click here 

CELEBRATING OUR 2011 PARTNERS!

A big welcome to Google who are joining Mardi Gras for the first time as a major Partner. Google are leading the globe in workplace diversity and inclusion commitment within GLBT community. Google “don’t just accept difference – we thrive on it. We celebrate it. And we support it, for the benefit of our employees, our products and our community.”

We would like to congratulate our inaugural Diversity Leadership Partner ANZ, for their continued commitment to diversity and inclusion in the Australian work place.

A big thank-you to our broadcast Partner Foxtel on Arena, who always make sure we sparkle for the cameras.

This year we welcome back returning Sponsors Virgin Blue, V Australia, Gaydar, Atlantis, Mount Franklin, Canadian Club and Firestick Wines.

And of course it’s always great to receive recognition and support from our Government Partners- Events NSW and City Of Sydney.

To find out how your brand can get involved click here

So go ahead and get involved in this years celebration… Embrace your inner fabulousness!

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

Harbour Party ’10 on Sunday 28th of February certainly was wet and wild and we’re not just talking about the weather! 

Not even a short sun shower could keep revelers away from the picturesque surrounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens with 5000 people turning up to showcase their hot bodies and cheerful dispositions!

mixitup’s production genius shone through the overcast skies, with no effort too great for our extended Mardi Gras family!

Disco was the underlying theme all over the venue, especially the main stage, which was draped in sparkly silver! Party-goers orbited around a gigantic disco ball the size of a small planet, and danced the night away amongst Sydney’s most spectacular Harbour views.

Harbour Party was a wonderful way to rejoice and come together in what was the final event of a memorable Mardi Gras Parade weekend!  

Beginning as a civil rights protest in 1978, the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, now in it’s 32nd year, not only remains a display of solidarity and a demand for equality by the GLBTIQ community, but has evolved into a two-week festival including two of the most famous parties in the world and of course the jewel in the crown - the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.

The world’s most famous transsexual, Amanda Lepore was thrilled and excited in her role as Chief of Parade, fulfilling her promise to be as naked as possible - bar a few strategically placed rhinestones!

But it was the ANZ bank’s float that unquestionably eclipsed even Amanda Lepore’s glitter and glam, as over 100 ANZ employees shone brighter than a full moon in silver lycra and shiny disco ball helmets!

The ANZ float (a rockin’ blue hummer decked with a boisterous sound system and even a bunch of glitter canons) is a symbol of ANZ’s culturally diverse workforce, and encourages other organisations to follow their lead as Australia’s workforce becomes increasingly colourful.

While Europe and America hibernate and shiver their way through the chills of winter, things are only starting to heat up down under. It’s summer time in Sydney and nothing makes the city shine more than the infamous Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras!!

This year’s festival will paint the town pink whilst showcasing Sydney’s natural beauty to the world!

To get a flavour of the 2010 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, click here!

We’d like to welcome back our sponsors:
ANZ
Virgin Blue
V Australia
Cockfighter’s Ghost
Events NSW
City of Sydney
Budweiser
GayDar
Mount Franklin and
Atlantis
and thank them for their continued support of the biggest and best-loved Gay & Lesbian community event in the world!

Get nude alongside thousands of others as world famous artist Spencer Tunick creates a ground-breaking artwork on the steps of the Sydney Opera House on March 1st! Sign up to participate here.

Feel the love and feel the spirit, with the most diverse celebration of Gay & Lesbian culture, the 2010 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Happy Mardi Gras! 

There’ll be no shortage of feather boas, sequins and mile-high hair dos when Virgin Blue Mardi Gras-themed flight DJ 857 takes to the skies at 3.45pm on Thursday 25 February.

In celebration of The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, one of the biggest events on the Sydney calendar, the airline has dedicated an entire commercial flight from Melbourne to Sydney to the glitz and glamour of this annual event.

Tickets for the ‘Up, Up and a Gay’ flight are available for purchase for $199 one-way which includes selected refreshments, goodie bags and very special ‘in-flight’ entertainment by the crew from Leave it to Diva.

Seats are going fast and bookings can be made by calling 13 15 16.

As a special addition, a number of fabulous famous faces are set to join the flight along with one of Virgin Blue’s own ‘drag queen’ cabin crew team member, Ms Marion De-Pilot.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said Mardi Gras always attracts a huge amount of travellers from across Australia and around the world.

“People come in droves to Sydney to take part in the celebrations, especially from Melbourne, so we thought it was a great opportunity to quiff our beehives, break out the sequins and kick off the party early by getting into the spirit of Mardi Gras ‘Priscilla’ style on the journey there.”

As the official airline for New Mardi Gras, Virgin Blue and will also feature its very own float in the main parade event on Saturday 27 February.

Brett Godfrey continued, “This is the biggest party in Australia and since Virgin Blue has been in existence we’ve had some kind of affiliation with Mardi Gras.”

Seats on the ‘Up, Up and a Gay’ flight are on SALE NOW for $199!!! Call 13 15 16

New Mardi Gras (NMG) and Virgin Blue today announced details of a major push to bring interstate visitors to the 2010 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras.

The two organisations have collaborated to put together five highly integrated deals including airfares, accommodation and event tickets, available through Blue Holidays, the holiday program of Virgin Blue. The packages will allow visitors to get the very best out of Mardi Gras with one simple purchase.

Click here to check out these packages!

Two packages focus on the weekend of the Parade, which this year takes place on 27th February. One other focuses on the Mardi Gras Party weekend of 6th and 7th March. Two further week-long packages offer visitors the chance to enjoy the most exciting week-long program ever offered by New Mardi Gras.

Packages include tickets to many of this year’s Mardi Gras’ most coveted events, including a wide range of parties, arts and cultural events and social events around Sydney’s tourist attractions from Manly Beach to Luna Park. They also include exclusive parade viewing access.

The packages will be promoted through a joint print and online campaign, targeting both interstate markets and New Zealand.

In August 2009, Events NSW research showing that Mardi Gras brought over 21,000 visitors into New South Wales in 2009, generating almost $30 million in new money for the State.

“We are delighted to have these packages out in the market,” said NMG Head of Marketing & Communications Damien Eames. “We have an exceptional season planned and these holidays really make the most of the events we’re hosting all over Sydney.”

Virgin Blue General Manager Public Affairs, Heather Jeffrey, said “Mardi Gras is one of the biggest events on the calendar and we’re pleased to be associated with NMG, working together to package up unique holidays and experiences so travelers can make the most of their time while in Sydney.”

As New Mardi Gras' exclusive sponsorship agency we are excited to release some hearty information this week on key dates, venues and talent.  This mob never cease to amaze us and we’ve gotta’ feeling that this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is going to be magical!

NMG launched its official Season Guide with the front cover based on art commissioned by NMG from local gay artist Scott Elk to bring this year’s Mardi Gras ‘History of the World’ theme to life. 

International and interstate visitors will have the opportunity to experience a variety of queer events in 2010 with gigs in Sydney’s parks, on the harbour, at the zoo, at Bondi, at Manly, at Tamarama, at Luna Park and at the Opera House.

Sydney is the place to be over February/March with no other event providing this kind of diversity of experience and with such a high-octane schedule, you’ll see what Sydney really can do!

Key events include:

Sunday 21^st February

Fair Day

Saturday 27^th February

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade

Saturday 27^th February

Parade Carnival, Entertainment Quarter

Sunday 28^th February

Harbour ’10 – the perfect recovery to the night before

Monday 1^st March

Spencer Tunick installation

Tuesday 2^nd March

Fag Tag, Manly

Wednesday 3^rd March

Dinner at the Zoo

Thursday 4^th March

Burt Bacharach

Friday 5^th March

Drag Races, Bondi Beach

Saturday 6^th March

Mardi Gras Party

Sunday 7^th March

Official After Part, Toybox at Luna Park

and loads, loads more!!!

To get more information on event schedules visit http://www.mardigras.org.au/

New Mardi Gras announced that a new work called The Base by internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Spencer Tunick would be one of this year's Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, with thousands of Sydneysiders and Mardi Gras visitors expected to participate nude in one of Tunick’s signature groundbreaking art installations on March 1st 2010.

Tunick’s art challenges the preconceived notions of nudity and the culturally charged, often negative, connotations that are associated with it. In his work, it is the beauty inherent in all human beings that prevails. This is Spencer Tunick's first large-scale installation in Sydney.

Born in Middletown, New York in 1967, Tunick currently lives in the Hudson Valley in New York State. Since 1992, he has done more than 95, short-lived, site-specific installations across the United States, Canada, and overseas.

Tunick broke his own record in 2007 when he encouraged more than 18,000 Mexicans to take their clothes off and pose for him at the Zocalo square in Mexico City!  Tunick has raised eyebrows by staging mass nude photo shoots in cities from Dusseldorf, Germany, to Caracas, however the Mexico City photo shoot certainly smashed his previous record of 7,000 volunteers set in 2003 in Barcelona, Spain.

“Spencer’s work will be a jewel in the crown of Mardi Gras 2010,” said NMG CEO Anna McInerney. “The installations will take place on the Monday after the Parade and is part of our commitment to providing an array of unique experiences within the two-week festival.”
 
Tunick’s visit will be supported by NMG with assistance from the City of Sydney. 
 
The artist invites Sydney’s non-gay community to come together and participate with Sydney’s Gay community to make a unique communal artwork.
 
Those wishing to shed their clothes for art on 1st March 2010 should sign-up at www.mardigras.org.au/tunick. 
 

New Mardi Gras (NMG) today revealed Events NSW research showing that Mardi Gras brought over 21,000 visitors into New South Wales in 2009, generating almost $30 million in new money for the State.

The research originated from a comprehensive review of the 2009 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras carried out by Events NSW. A face-to-face survey of over 1,200 attendees was carried out by an independent research company on Parade night as well as an online survey of more than 400 Mardi Gras Partygoers.

Key estimates include:

• Over 21,000 visitors from interstate or overseas came specifically for Mardi Gras
• Overseas visitors stayed an average of 10.5 nights in Sydney and NSW
• Interstate visitors stayed an average of 3.9 nights in Sydney and NSW
• Overall direct economic impact into NSW: $29,548,761.

These results mean that Mardi Gras is one of the State’s best performing events on the NSW Master Events Calendar.

The review also included a media monitoring study that found Mardi Gras generated 448 press articles published in interstate and key NSW tourism markets, accounting for a cumulative circulation of over 40 million. Television and radio items broadcast in interstate markets had a cumulative audience of almost 17 million.

“We are delighted at the results this research has delivered,” said NMG CEO Anna McInerney. “Not only do they demonstrate what a major draw Mardi Gras is and its economic significance for the State, but they also help us understand our audience better.”

“Events NSW investment in New Mardi Gras has allowed us to pursue a growth strategy with confidence. There is enormous potential to increase both the volume and quality of visitation and we are absolutely determined to achieve this.”

Events NSW CEO Geoff Parmenter said we are thrilled at the outcome of this research, which clearly shows Mardi Gras is an important Sydney event that successfully drives tourism and generates significant economic benefit for NSW.

“In our role as strategic partner, we worked closely with New Mardi Gras in developing an enduring and sustainable business model that has ensured a future for the event in Sydney. 

“Sydneysiders should be very proud of this iconic event.  It showcases the diversity of our city to the world and we are confident Mardi Gras will continue to deliver for the State over the coming years.