New Look Mardi Gras For 2010

Local News, By Christian Taylor, 20th May, 2009

Mardi Gras have announced bold changes to their format in 2010 which includes an even shorter festival and the splitting of Parade and Party, which will now run on separate weekends. They’ve also announced the theme for 2010 – Mardi Gras’ History of the World.

The festival will now run for two weeks which will launch with Fair Day on Sunday 21st February in Victoria Park, build to Mardi Gras Parade in the middle of the season, and will end with Party.

Mardi Gras Parade will still take place on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst and Mardi Gras will still be hosting a post-Parade event that night. Details of this event are yet to be announced.

Harbour Party will be back as well, and will take place on Sunday after Parade, making it more of a recovery party.

The 2010 season theme, Mardi Gras’ History of the World, aims to explore gay people’s stories through the ages and provide a queer take on some of the great moments and figures of history. The theme will run throughout Mardi Gras’ key events – Fair Day, Harbour ‘10, Parade and Mardi Gras Party.

“2009 was always going to be a pivotal year for us after the thirtieth anniversary in 2008,” said Chair David Imrie in a statement. “We got back on TV, secured state government funding, grew the Parade, brought in bigger acts, with Joan Rivers and Paul Oakenfold and certainly got more media attention. In 2010 we will continue this growth with a punchier format, delivering two weeks of stunning arts and entertainment.”

Danielle Harvey, Festival Executive Producer, is pleased with the now even shorter Festival format.

“A review of major arts festivals around the world showed they were typically two week festivals. By moving to two weeks we will be able to create a much more impactful experience for both local and international audiences.”

Anna McInerney, the CEO of New Mardi Gras, says that the changes are more in keeping with other major festival type events around the world.

“Rio and New Orleans are not just a single parade – though they have that as their core. They encompass many small parades and parties and go on for days. That is what we want to bring to Sydney at Mardi Gras and in particular that final week.”

McInerney went on to say that the theme allows for both celebration and political statements.

“It’s important that the themes we choose can support both these elements. Mardi Gras’ History of the World will of course be a very tongue-in-cheek and colourful exploration of the past, but it will also find room for us to honour some great people and mark things that we as a community need to remember, like Stonewall or the pink triangle victims of the Nazi concentration camps.”

2010 Mardi Gras season dates are as follows:
Mardi Gras Launch and Fair Day- February 21
Mardi Gras Parade – February 27
Harbour ‘10 – February 28
Mardi Gras Party – March 6.

Check out our shots from 2009 Mardi Gras Parade here and Party here.

Read: Mardi Gras Cover Up.

Related Videos

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Brent Corrigan Talks About His Time... 10 March, 2010

Same Same Goes To Mardi Gras Parade 2010 05 March, 2010

Your Thoughts

sydney_guy83

said ages ago

wtf...parade and party seperate? that's crazy talk :| what's the point

David DC

said ages ago

had another idea today for the post parade event (remember, MG never said it was necessarily a party party)... STREET PARTY! good in theory I know... but hey, what's wrong with wishful thinking! ;)

Zakalwe

said ages ago

Thats a great idea.

David DC

said ages ago

and not totally unrealistic (but problematic yes)... that's essentially what First Night was during Sydney Festival. streets closed, masses of people, various stages and entertainment etc. so why not something similar (with a queer twist) for MG?! makes sense with all those people already there. and isn't that what happens in Berlin, Rio etc? all this talk about another "party" party seems silly... what's the point of 2 peoples! :D

CeeJay

said ages ago

Yeah would be a great night, but Sydney Festival's First Night gets $1m in Govt funding. Not sure the state's being quite so generous with NMG... I think whatever they do post-parade would have to be revenue-generating. Could be wrong though :)

Asherbella

said ages ago

I think I have a Mardi Gras curse. I haven't enjoyed Mardi Gras since 2003. Something goes wrong: I get sick, I lose my wallet, I trip & fall over, my parade outfit falls to bits, my ex leaves drunken meesages on my phone, I have to work the night before: I'm staying AWAY from Mardi Gras.

CeeJay

said ages ago

Email sent to members today: We have received a great deal of feedback regarding the new format for the 2010 Festival announced last week and we would like to thank all members for their interest. Whilst we are encouraged by the many supportive and enthusiastic responses, we have also taken on board concerns expressed by others. The Mardi Gras Board has very seriously considered the interests of all key stakeholders - members, parade entrants, volunteers, attendees, spectators and canvassed opinions from a range of interested parties. The 2010 programme had to take into account a range of broad considerations which included the current economic climate, availability of venues and artists, potential partnership opportunities, financial implications and a strong desire to ensure that Mardi Gras continues to evolve, surprise and represent our community. As a Board we are confident and excited about the decisions made for 2010 and believe it will make it the most exciting Mardi Gras in years. One message we have received is that some of our members feel they were not consulted sufficiently. We take this point very seriously. In our view we had the information we needed to make an informed decision, however with hindsight we realise more could have been done to canvass the views of our members directly. As a result we plan to review how we can incorporate greater member participation into our decision-making processes. For now we would like your thoughts regarding the Parade Night Event. There are a number of options for this event which will be held at the culmination of the Parade on the 27th February. There is the opportunity to close this event to the general public and hold a member-only function. Please let us know your thoughts via email to feedback@mardigras.org.au. From the Board & CEO of New Mardi Gras David Imrie Josh Keech Tony Knight Anna McInerney (CEO) Kirk Muddle Peter Munro (Company Secretary) Nick Parker Rob Partos Steph Sands

gaybot

said ages ago

Great idea! I think we all shall stay away considering their latest move and email! On the one hand New Mardi Gras are concerned and take it seriously that members were not consulted however on the other totally disregard this by calling for feedback on the Post Parade Event!!! I find this as minimising our concerns, remaining rigid and not willing to correct what could be a very fatal error in decision making for our organisation!!! We need to change this decision, there is still time and lets hope they come to their senses before our AGM!!!

Stevie Boy

said ages ago

The more I think about this the more it worries me. Specifically the decision to shorten the Festival even further to only 2 weeks. The thing that is great about Mardi Gras is that it is not JUST the parade and party... it is an entire gay season. I think it's really damaging to send out a message to the rest of the world that we are just about dance parties. The festival is made up of so many great plays, movies and exhibitions and it's a shame to take the focus off this. It gives Mardi Gras a chance to reach out to the wider straight community and get them along to see some gay topics aswell. We had such a good time going to the various gay movies that were on as part of the film festival. Why limit the opportunity for options other than dance parties?

billyjtt2

said ages ago

I have been to MG for the last few years and always book everything early. For 2010, I haven't done anything. I am from Brisbane and I can't stay in Sydney for 2 weekends, so I have to wait and see when the other parties such as Toybox, Homesexual, DTPM are on. I go to MGras for the parties, not the parade. I will be there whenever Toybox, Homesexual, DTPM are on. If Harbour party is on Sunday, Toybox can't be on that same Sunday, so looking from that, Toybox (if it still exists) should be on the same weekend as the main MG party. I don't mind that at all. I can skip the parade anytime. Being a person from Brisbane, I do prefer the old format. But I do accept the new format and will be interested to know what the outcomes are for MG 2010. I guess if it doesn't work, 2011 can go back to the old format.

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