27 September 2023

The 24th Biennale of Sydney is headed to White Bay Power Station!

Reopening to the public for the first time in over 100 years, the iconic White Bay Power Station has been revitalised with care by the NSW Government so the doors can swing wide in 2024 as a new cultural hub. The Biennale of Sydney is delighted to be the inaugural world-class experience at this iconic site with free admission for all, and are thrilled to contribute to the evolving cityscape with Ten Thousand Suns.

The 24th Biennale of Sydney will sit amidst the raw industrial grandeur of White Bay Power Station from 9 March to 10 June 2024.

Imagine a free-spirited journey through contemporary art, music, and culinary delights, all set against the backdrop of the iconic White Bay Power Station. The Biennale of Sydney is an immersive experience, a contemporary art extravaganza, featuring some of the most remarkable works from around the globe and right here in Australia.

Together, let’s inspire audiences and embark on a journey that transcends boundaries, igniting conversations about the world we live in. The Biennale of Sydney is more than an event; it’s an extraordinary experience that promises to redefine how you perceive art and culture.

The Biennale extends our sincere appreciation to the NSW Government for their visionary leadership in bringing this project, this major international event, and this site, to fruition, along with the many patrons and partners of the Biennale of Sydney – especially the Neilson Foundation – who are investing in bringing this dream alive. Together, we anticipate inspiring audiences and nurturing a deeper intersection between art, history, living culture and innovation.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday 31 October! We will be revealing all our secrets for Ten Thousand Suns.

We’ll unveil all the 2024 exhibition partners, programs, and the list of artists from Australia and across the world to deliver the finest showcase of contemporary art.

PLUS, for the first time ever, an eclectic music program curated by Phoenix Central Park will be exclusively presented to complement the exhibition, delivering a unique live music experience at White Bay Power Station. Stay tuned for an exuberant line-up to kick off the edition!

Get ready to book your tickets to opening night ‘Lights On’, workshops, performances, talks, and more on October 31st.

About White Bay Power Station

The NSW State Heritage-listed White Bay Power Station will soon bring new energy to Sydney and Australia as it opens its doors to the public for the 2024 Biennale of Sydney.

Placemaking NSW has undertaken extensive remediation and conservation works to repurpose the site as an arts, cultural and community hub.

White Bay Power Station will become a focal point for the transformation of the Bays West precinct into a connected and vibrant new area for living, working and recreation.

White Bay is part of the Balmain Peninsula in the Inner West of Sydney and is one of the most recognised landmarks in the precinct and includes surrounding lands to the White Bay foreshore.

White Bay Power Station was constructed between 1912 and 1917 to power the rail network and is now over 100 years old. The power station is exceptionally significant as the only one retaining machinery and equipment from before the 1950s, demonstrating the process of electricity production and it’s use throughout Sydney’s extensive rail network.

The stretch of Country now known as Bays West has been known for millennia as Gari Gurad/Nura (Saltwater Country) and Nattai Gurad/Nura (Freshwater Country). This Country is celebrated for vast expanses of garaban (rock and sandstone) which in some places provides shelter, gibbaragunya (stone/cave shelters), and in other places creates yiningmah (steep cliffs).