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Sydney Architecture Festival to challenge, reshape and engage


9th Sydney Architecture Festival to challenge, reshape and engage

The 2015 Sydney Architecture Festival promises to challenge standard practices, reshape architecture and engage in new ways, if the choice of the Festival’s inaugural Event Directors is any guide.

The Festival’s presenting partners - the NSW Architects Registration Board, and the Australian Institute of Architects (NSW) - announced the appointment of Lucy Humphrey, Claire McCaughan and John O’Callaghan as the event’s first ever Event Director team following a public call in March.

The announcement was made on social media Friday after a workshop held to design the Festival’s program which will remain secret until a formal launch later in the year.

The Sydney Architecture Festival will take place between 2- 5 October 2015.

Meet the Event Director team:

Archrival (@archrival)

Archrival is a non-profit organisation that unites the creative community throughproductive rivalry, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Operating strategically, Archrival explores ways to reshape architecture and design practice. Archrival believes that standard practices need to be challenged in order to remain valid. Archrival was formed in 2011 and their projects have involved hundreds of collaborators to date. They have participated in leading events including the Sydney Fringe (2011), Sydney Festival (2012), 13th Venice International Biennale of Architecture (2012), Sydney Art Month (2013), Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (2013), Art & About (2013) and Complete Streets (2013). Projects range from custom furniture to set design, large scale interactive installations, critical writing, strategic infrastructure, collaborative workshops and pop-up exhibitions.

John O Callaghan (@John_OCal)

John O’Callaghan is an urban planner and director of JOC Consulting. He specialises in social activation, community engagement and new media and is passionate about positive behaviour change; making our cities more liveable through creativity and innovation. John is the co-founder of Idea Bombing Sydney, a creative meetup focused on turning ideas into action. He was recently appointed to the board of Brand X, a not for profit arts organisation. In 2014, John was awarded the Urban Provocateur 2014 award by DARCH (the NSW Emerging Architects and Graduates Network) and recognised as an AMP Tomorrow Maker by the AMP Tomorrow Fund.

For more, and to stay in touch, head to: @ArchInsights, or @ArchitectureNSW or follow the Festival at @SydArchFest #SAF15

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