Opinion: Sydney’s culture calendar can compete globally when it backs bold work

When the 24th Biennale of Sydney was recently crowned the best exhibition in the world by the Global Fine Art Awards, a collective sigh of relief echoed from the galleries of the MCA to the industrial voids of White Bay Power Station. For a city often preoccupied with its own property prices and the reliability of the T1 Western Line, this global validation serves as a necessary wake-up call. We aren’t just a pretty face with a harbour; when we actually commit to the bit, Sydney’s cultural output can go toe-to-toe with the heavyweights of London, Berlin, and New York.

The success of the most recent Biennale, titled 'Ten Thousand Suns', proved that Sydney audiences are hungry for more than just safe, blockbuster crowd-pleasers. By spreading its wings across diverse locations — from the heritage-listed halls of the Art Gallery of NSW to the gritty, cavernous atmosphere of the repurposed Rozelle power site — the festival turned the city itself into a canvas. This wasn't just art for the elite; it was an invitation to explore the city’s hidden corners, dragging people out of their suburban bubbles and into conversations they didn't know they needed to have.

Critics often pigeonhole Sydney as a lifestyle city — a place where culture comes second to a coastal walk or a long lunch in Surry Hills. But the Biennale’s global win suggests that our greatest strength lies in our ability to blend that lifestyle with challenging, high-concept work. We have the uniquely Sydney advantage of being a gateway to the Pacific while maintaining a relentless curiosity for global movements. When we back curators who aren't afraid to ruffle feathers or take up space in unconventional venues, we stop being a regional outpost and start being a destination.

However, this global recognition shouldn't lead to complacency. If Sydney wants to keep this momentum, the city needs to stop treating its creative sector like a decorative add-on. We’ve seen DIY venues in Marrickville struggle against rising rents and nightlife in the CBD take years to recover from restrictive policies. The lessons from the Biennale’s triumph are clear: bold work requires space, funding, and a certain level of institutional bravery. It thrives when it isn't tucked away in a corner but is instead woven into the fabric of our everyday commutes and weekend plans.

The challenge now is to ensure this isn't a flash in the pan. The 'world’s best' title is a prestigious nod, but the real victory is the shift in internal confidence. Whether it’s the expansion of Vivid beyond its light-show roots or the burgeoning arts scenes in Parramatta and Liverpool, the blueprint for success is already here. We simply need to keep leaning into the uncomfortable and the experimental. Sydney is at its best when it refuses to play it safe, proving that our culture can be just as bright and enduring as the sun on the water.