Semi-Permanent 2011

Overview

There are a lot of creative gatherings above-the-radar in Sydney these days. TEDx Sydney is almost upon us again, Creative Sydney is about to return under Vivid's big umbrella, and if PechaKucha wasn't already an above-ground thing, then its public presence at last year's Biennale pushed it over the top. But preceding all of these groups into the spotlight is a conference that hosts a convention of creative designers, artists and all their related mad crowd. Nestled between a freeway and a parking lot in Darling Harbour, the Sydney Convention Centre's bumpy curves aren't usually considered a hot-house of art and design. But for two days a year it puts aside its concrete reputation to host big names and up-and-comers of the design world at Semi-Permanent.

Semi-Permanent is now in its ninth year of bringing together interesting speakers with interesting audiences. Last years' speakers included Triple J culture-communicator Craig Schuftan and the founders of Frankie. This year artists Reg Mombassa, Kelly Thompson and We Buy Your Kids will be speaking, along with others from creative agencies, digital FX and elsewhere. There will also be a free exhibition of conference artists at the Paper Mill and an after party at Lo-Fi.

Image by Corey Arnold.