ART AND ABOUT: "UNCOVER OXFORD STREET" SHOP YOURSELF STUPID & BIG BBQ - SATURDAY OCTOBER 3

So very exciting things happening for the month of October, with the City of Sydney's Art & About initiative kicking off October 1, continuing for the whole month of October.

This year's program has a great GLBT focus, as we're partnering up with the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation for the Uncover Oxford Street part of the program, with funds raised going to people living with HIV. As you've already aware, we're kicking off on Saturday October 3 with the infamous Shop Yourself Stupid and Big BBQ plus Bobby Goldsmith Foundation Art Tours (which will continue to take place every Saturday for the month). Hosted by local Drag Queens, Uncover Oxford Street kicks off the weekend of Sleaze Ball, so it will be a great initiative to raise some funds for BGF, and get the weekend off to a flying start!

Highlights of Uncover Oxford Street include:

Bobby Goldsmith Foundation Art Tours

When: 1-25 October, Saturdays at 2pm (meet at Taylor Square)

Join some of Sydney’s favourite celebrities and drag queens on a truly fabulous art tour through the galleries of Surry Hills, Darlinghurst or Paddington.

Bookings: www.bgf.org.au

Shop Yourself Stupid and Big BBQ

3 October, 11am-6pm (BBQ 11am – 1pm)

Support the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation and enjoy an extravaganza of shopping, performance, art and indulgence, and a tasty lunchtime BBQ (part of the Sydney International Food Festival).

Shop Yourself Stupid on Oxford St

The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation and City of Sydney proudly present the return of the one, the only
SHOP YOURSELF STUPID
Saturday 3 October 2009, 11am-6pm
Taylor Square, Lower Oxford St, Crown St, Bourke St and the surrounding area

Keep your diary free to welcome the return of Sydney’s favourite fundraising day. Shop yourself stupid out of the recession blues and help the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (Australia’s longest-running HIV charity) at the same time. All the proceeds from Shop Yourself Stupid will directly assist people living in poverty with HIV.

Retailers and venues along Oxford Street and other shopping precincts in Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Paddington will be throwing their support behind this great event. Buy up big and bring all your friends along to enjoy this extravaganza of shopping, performance, art and indulgence.

Join BBQ Madness in Taylor Square from 11am-1pm and there will be live music and entertainment from 11am onwards.

Make sure you look out for our friendly volunteers in Hyde Park, Oxford St, Crown St and Bourke St who will be collecting donations throughout the day. Please give generously to this important cause.

If you would like to volunteer for a variety of roles at Shop Yourself Stupid. It’s a great way to have fun, meet new people and help raise vital funds for BGF at the same time. If you’d like to volunteer to help us out at Shop Yourself Stupid, please call Nicole on (02) 9283 8666 or email nicole.kolotas@bgf.org.au or register online at www.bgf.org.au.

Glittery Golden Mile to be Uncovered in October

The gay golden mile of Oxford Street will be a centre of art, music and performance throughout the month of October as part of the City of Sydney’s ‘Art and About’ initiative.

The ‘Uncover Oxford Street’ festival will feature over 20 events and exhibitions in shopfronts, gardens, galleries and public spaces along Oxford Street, in a celebration of the area’s vibrant and diverse culture.

Highlights of the festival will include the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF) Art Tours, a drag queen-led tour of the precinct’s art galleries; the Doppelganger Festival at the Oxford Art Factory, which will allow Sydneysiders to experience Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory, as well as art, design, music and performance from Sydney’s own underground scene; and the ‘Live Green House’ in Taylor Square North – an interactive urban home showcasing sustainable solutions for both house and apartment living.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said Uncover Oxford Street was part of the City’s commitment to revitalising the area under the banner of the Oxford Street Cultural Quarter.

“By working with communities, creative industries and businesses to establish the Oxford Street Cultural Quarter, we are committed to revitalising this area as one of Sydney’s most exciting cultural destinations,” she said.

The full program of Uncover Oxford Street and all Art and About events around Sydney is available at www.artandabout.com.au