Once the sun goes down, the party kicks off at the Hyde Park Barracks. On selected Thursdays every two months, the heritage site next door to Hyde Park transforms into a cultural hub with beats, a pop-up bar and food offerings as part of Sydney Living Museums' After Dark series.
Expect live music, ideas, installations and discussions, with a focus on interpreting the historic site in a contemporary way. An Archie Rose gin pop-up bar serves up their botanical flavoured canned cocktails, and you'll get to purchase food from food trucks from OzHarvest and Nighthawk Diner. A ticket to the event gets you complimentary museum entry, so you can explore the immersive experience for free on the night. Tickets are $30 per person – book online.
On Thursday June 30, After Dark is celebrating the third artwork in Sydney Living Museums' annual art commission: 'Boundary Conditions' by renowned Melbourne-based artist Daniel Crooks. Presented on a giant monolithic screen hovering in the forecourt of Hyde Park Barracks, the installation is an ambitious video work that portrays an alternate world of disparate spaces and non-linear time.
During the evening Crooks will appear in conversation with Adam Lindsay, CEO of Sydney Living Museums. Composer and creator of the 'Boundary Conditions' soundscape, Byron Scullin, is curating a line-up of heavy hitters from the experimental music and sound art world who will perform live across the museum site. Artists featured include Chris Abrahams, Clare Cooper, Robbie Avenaim, Gail Priest, Alex White and Nina Buchanan. You can also try your hand at electronic music production with drop-in workshops.
The building itself was designed by convict architect Francis Greenway and completed in 1819. Two hundred years later it underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation, and today offers a fascinating insight into colonial Sydney. And there's arguably no better way to experience the Barracks than After Dark.