Sydney Opera House is an iconic structure of major architectural, heritage and cultural significance. The roof or “Sails” of the House is the centrepiece of this significance and of the brand of Sydney Opera House. The Sails provide a window to the world for not only Sydney but the whole of Australia.
The community expects that Sydney Opera House will take a high profile position in events of state, national and international significance.
Sydney Opera House Trust frequently receives requests from not-for-profit and commercial organisations to illuminate or project images or specific colours onto the roof of Sydney Opera House (the Sails) for the purpose of promoting a community message, cause, product or service.
As a consequence this policy has been established by the Trust to both preserve the Sails, to protect the Sails from exploitation and to manage illumination of the Sails where it has been permitted.
The Sails should not advertise or promote a product or cause. Due to the importance of the Sails to the identity of Sydney Opera House, the Trust is not in a position to endorse products through the Sails. This would both undermine the integrity of the Sails, and incur a considerable resource burden on Sydney Opera House.
No Logo or corporate identity shall be permitted to be projected onto the Sails. A colour shall not be used to promote a corporate identity. (e.g red for Coca-Cola)
The lighting of the sails is permissible on an exceptional and limited basis where the following criteria are met:
- The lighting or projection onto the sails is related to a major cultural or community event and to not be detrimental to the form of the building
- The impact is assessed by Sydney Opera House to have significant artistic/aesthetic merit
- The execution has very high production values
- Does not adversely intrude on the public environs of Sydney Opera House site
- The result is consistent with Sydney Opera House brand, image and Performing Arts Strategy
- There is appropriate acknowledgement of Sydney Opera House as part of the event
Requests for illumination of the Sails may from time to time come from Government either to promote special events or encourage tourism. These requests should be responded to positively, while maintaining the Trust’s policy of non exploitation of the Sails.
In the situation where Sydney Opera House Sails form a backdrop to a televised outside broadcast, the temporary enhancement of a degree of white light reflected on the sails is permissible. Funding for this request will not generally be met by Sydney Opera House.
There may be an occasion of state or national significance where the lights on the Sails are turned off for a period of time.
December 2003