Presented by Sydney Festival and ABC Radio National

For most, January is a time for the turning of a new page, a fresh start, new promise for the world and those we love. What potential does the year hold, and what threats?

The inaugural Sydney Festival keynote, HOPE 2010: Crisis, Catharsis, Renewal, promises to be a potent moment in the first week of the Festival and a highlight of our new Scope series of public discussions inspired by the "ideas architecture" of the 2010 program.

Signalling a compelling new direction for Sydney Festival, HOPE 2010 gathers a diverse, fascinating and inspirational group of artists, thinkers, public figures and ordinary citizens linked – like the audience - by their hopes, dreams and fears for the year ahead. With them, the audience (both live in the City Recital Hall and on ABC Radio National) will contemplate this individual and collective challenge: "What shall we resolve for 2010?"

This is no lectern-bound series of orations.  The evening, theatricalised by Festival Director Lindy Hume, will have a distinctly Sydney Festival personality. Mini-performances by Festival artists will be woven between the carefully prepared thoughts of three selected audience members and six remarkable Australian and international speakers. The atmosphere will be informal, convivial and welcoming – more "chat show" than "panel discussion" - guests sit on stage in lounges, while broadcaster and humorist Wendy Harmer capably ensures the evening stays focused, moves smoothly and that all viewpoints are heard. Wendy provides a crucial link between the action and audiences in the City Recital Hall and around Australia on ABC Radio National.

An extraordinary group of distinguished guests includes Noel Pearson, Director of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, American theatre director and social activist Peter Sellars, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney Dr Michael Spence and Eva Cox, whose advocacy for a more civil society informs her writings. These lions are joined by two quite extraordinary young people. They are 18 year old Laurie Wallis, recently awarded first in the NSW HSC in English, focusing on contemporary nature based poetry and Yar Mayen, a 20 year old Sudanese refugee who, having made Australia her new home, has just completed her nursing degree and hopes to become a doctor.

Ghenoa Gela from the 2010 Sydney Festival dance theatre work Happy As Larry and internationally acclaimed recorder player Genevieve Lacey complement this eclectic mix with performances riffing on the theme of Hope. Each guest has been invited to speak (sing or play) from the heart as they look to the year ahead. 

Conceived and produced by Sydney Festival in partnership with ABC Radio National, HOPE 2010: Crisis, Catharsis, Renewal seeks to set a new agenda for 2010 – optimistic, aspiring and provocative in tone, stimulating ongoing discussion, both live and online, all year round.

In order to create a picture of what Australians are thinking at the start of a new decade, we are asking you to let us know what your hopes, dreams and fears are for 2010. For more information on how to contribute please visit the ABC Hope 2010 page.

POST EVENT NOTICE: View footage from this event on the ABC website here.

Photo: Ingvar Kenne