Apply online
Submit your design by Monday 12 May 2025, 11:59pm Sydney time.
Sydney Lunar Festival banner gallery
We invite artists and creatives to design an outdoor public art installation celebrating the Year of the Horse in 2026.
In progress
- Applications now open.
- Applications close Monday 12 May, 11:59pm Sydney time.
- Successful applicants notified by 6 June 2025.
We’re seeking up to 8 artists and creatives to design the banner gallery.
Successful concepts will use the street banner network throughout the city centre in a corridor-like effect along key streets and transit routes.
Sydney Lunar Festival is attended by more than 1.3 million people each year and celebrates diverse cultural communities. The Sydney Lunar Festival includes Lunar Lanterns on George Street, Sydney Lunar Streets in Haymarket, Dixon Street Mall decorations, dragon boat races and more than 80 exciting associated events.
The banner gallery will be on show from 12 February to 1 March 2026.
Sydney Lunar Festival banners from 2024 Year of the Snake — Banner artist: Ratih Luhur. Photograph: Phoebe Pratt / City of Sydney
Artist brief
Your concept for the banner gallery should:
- reflect the Year of the Horse
- draw inspiration from one of the communities that celebrate the Lunar New Year
- be highly engaging, vibrant and colourful, and appeal to a broad audience
- demonstrate artistic excellence, innovation, and a creative approach
- be designed in line with the banner specifications
- consider the sequencing of banners with up to 6 designs permitted in each banner gallery.
All submitted artwork must be original and created by the applicant. Proposals should not include reproductions, derivatives, or works that infringe on existing copyrights. You must not use artificial intelligence platforms, known as Generative AI, to create or develop the artwork.
Make sure you read the terms and conditions before submitting your application.
Artwork specifications
- Designs need to show very strong colours to work most effectively with fabric printing. The colours need to be strong enough to penetrate both sides of the banners.
- The banners will be printed double-sided. Be mindful of how your artwork may look reversed.
- The banners will be seen from a distance and often in motion. You may want to avoid fine detail and intricate gradients.
Banner guidePDF · 817.55 KB · Last modified
Banner specificationsPDF · 355.07 KB · Last modified
We’ll provide
- project management
- printing and production
- installation (scheduled from 9 February 2026) and dismantling (scheduled from 2 March 2026) of artwork banners
- publicity and promotion.
How to apply
All applications must be made online. Email applications won’t be accepted.
The following details are required:
- artist contact details, including project leader who must be nominated for communications.
- artist bio or CV
- artwork statement with 250 words maximum describing the artwork concept and indicating how the artwork fits within a contemporary Australian celebration of the Lunar New Year
- coloured design references for the banner gallery
- demonstration of connection with a community that celebrates the Lunar New Year
- all files clearly labelled with the applicant’s name (maximum file size for each file is 5MB).
Apply online
Submit your design by Monday 12 May 2025, 11:59pm Sydney time.
Terms and conditions
Before submitting your response, read the terms and conditions.
The successful applicants will be required to sign this agreement before starting work on the project.
Simplified consultancy agreementPDF · 369.46 KB · Last modified
