According to festival organisers, record crowds have enjoyed the City of Sydney’s 2009 Art & About, cementing it as Sydney’s biggest annual public arts festival.

Estimates since the festivals opening day on October 1 indicate that:

• 745,000 people a day passed by contemporary Indigenous artworks on street banners thanks to Open Gallery;

• 62,000 people explored the By George! temporary artworks in Sydney laneways (remaining in place until the end of January).

• Over 200 people crocheted and knitted as part of the collaborative knitting project I ♥ Kings Cross

• Over 300,000 people enjoyed Australia’s premier outdoor public photography competition Sydney Life in Hyde Park North.

• More than 4,500 people passed through the Live Green House during its four days in Taylor Square North.

Art & About is part of Crave Sydney, a major celebration of Sydney’s unmatched way of life and one of five anchor events in the NSW Master Events Calendar created by Events NSW.

For more information visit www.cravesydney.com

Images: Ben Garrard, 2009.