Spectrum is Launching Its Own Festival, Directed by Richard Roxburgh

No longer just a Saturday brekkie read, Sydney Morning Herald's Spectrum section is launching its own festival — casually directed by Rake actor, professional dreamboat and total legend Richard Roxburgh. Spectrum Now is being pitched as a celebration of Sydney's creativity — music, film, books, stage, dance, contemporary art and design — with over 150 exhibitions, gigs, outdoor galleries, installations, talks, events and wiiiiiiiine times planned for two weeks in March 2015.

Under the articulate watch of kickass, award-winning actor, SMH columnist and festival creative director, Roxburgh, Spectrum Now is set to be a Pretty Big Deal. "I'm in equal measure honoured, excited and daunted to take up the challenge to bring a blockbuster program of artistic surprises to Sydney — it’s going to be brilliant," says Roxburgh. "Sydney has one of the most rich and diverse artistic communities in the world... For the month of March during Spectrum Now we will be showcasing that entire community and encouraging them to join us in bringing a degustation of delights to the people of Sydney."

While the program won't be launched until January 31, we've got some tidbits of info to nibble on until then. Kicking off on March 11, Spectrum Now will focus around the Spectrum Playground (thanks for the mad shout out guys, woo! Yeah!). For two weeks from March 11–22, the Domain will be transformed into what the team is calling a 'creative pleasure garden', which sounds so overtly erotic we're signing up on the spot. We're talking bars, outdoor sculptures and pop-up exhibitions, alongside a bunch of tasty treats and live music.

Talksters will dig on The Full Spectrum series, a program of arts talks, panels and performances curated by SMH's entertainment team. Art enthusiasts, your hallowed halls are getting in on the action too, with Sydney's top galleries and spaces like Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Sydney Opera House planning installations and ambiguous surprises on the foreshore.

If you're wanting to get in on the action and host your own event, Spectrum are outsourcing. Event registrations are now open over a spectrum (WEY-OH) event categories including culture, food, arts, film, theatre, books and more. Applications close 12 December 2014. To find out more visit www.spectrumnow.com.au.