SAPPHIRE DINNER 2024 DESIGN PROCESS
AT THE TANK IN THE ART GALLERY OF NSW

THE TANK

The iconic Tank, located at the deepest layer of the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ Naala Badu, north building, is a unique venue with a rich history. During World War II, two large oil tanks were built into the eastern side of the Domain in Woolloomooloo to provide fuel for the naval fleet at Garden Island - each with the capacity to hold six million litres of oil. One of these decommissioned tanks has now been transformed into a breathtaking art and performance space, which is unique space to Sydney.

The scale, structure, and acoustics of the 2,200 square metre space offered an unparalleled backdrop for our event, making it a truly exceptional venue in Sydney. Designing the Sapphire event for the Tank with its distinctive features, required us to think creatively about how to overcome some sonic and visual challenges.

SOUND

The magical underground space, surrounded by sandstone, has an 18 second reverb. To overcome this, we collaborated with a sound engineer to create a massive sound bubble using strategically placed speakers across the entire dinner space.

Each column in the space supported speakers with adjusted volumes, fine-tuned numerous times to ensure clear and direct sound for all our guests. Additionally, structures like the LED wall and other furniture helped absorb sound and enhance audio clarity.  

VISUAL

The visual challenge posed by the 125 structural columns was addressed by positioning our main stage and a giant 26-metre long LED wall - on the east side of the tank. Complementing this were multiple projection mappings on the north and south side walls, displaying stunning animations curated by our digital art partner, d’strict. This thoughtful design enhanced the dramatic ambience of the columns and ensured everyone could fully enjoy the visual content.

To enhance the overall experience, we laid out six long tables, each seating 56 guests (28 on each side). This arrangement allowed everyone to easily turn their heads to view the main screen without discomfort. We avoided round tables to ensure no one had their back to the stage. Above each row of tables, we curated moving beam lighting to add to the dramatic ambience.

SEGMENT DESIGN

As guests arrived from the west side of the room where the spiral staircase is located, they were greeted by a stunning media wall for photos, the Moët & Chandon Bar with champagne and canapés, and an immediate view of the immersive space. The depth of vision towards the north side, featuring the LED wall, created a magical look. We commissioned our digital art partner, d’strict, to curate four sets of ocean-themed visuals, making guests feel more immersed in the Tank. The four sets of visuals were: Whale Song with splashing waves (for arrival), Aurora Beach (for seating and entrée), Enchanted Whale Garden (for the main course), and Evening Jungle Glow (for the after-party). These visuals were combined with a five-minute curated light show opener set to a modified version of “Bittersweet Symphony.” This piece echoes the pain of the fifth mass coral bleaching event and the hope of restoration through scalable technologies, which is the main fundraising purpose of the night. This combination enhanced the Sapphire journey, creating a dreamy and mysterious ambience.

SCENT & FLORAL DESIGN

We worked with our scent partner Air Aroma to infuse the air conditioning system with an ocean scent to create a pleasant atmosphere throughout the event. The floral arrangements, designed and provided by Belinda of The Curated Life were inspired by the sculptural and often brutal beauty of the seafloor. Bursts of colour and organic shapes set against strong textural elements created a uniquely beautiful and surprising combination.

ENTERTAINMENT INSPIRATION

The background music for the entire evening was carefully selected over a long period leading up to the event to reflect our team’s emotions for this year’s event. We are grateful to have been supported by the Australian Ballet Alumni Nathan Brook, Amanda McGuigan, Coco Mathieson, and Jasmin Durham, who performed to a contemporary soundtrack we chose called “Kanna.”

The performance begins with a serene, expansive soundscape representing the vastness of the ocean. As the music progresses, marine life returns to their home, the coral reefs. Initially, there is a sense of tranquillity and familiarity, but this quickly shifts to panic and despair as they discover the devastation caused by mass bleaching. The performance captures their collective sorrow and confusion as they navigate the ruins of their once-vibrant home. Despite the chaos, there is an undercurrent of resilience and hope. The marine creatures, embodying strength and unity, rally together with the belief that they can bring about renewal and restoration, symbolizing a hopeful future for the ocean.

Australian artist Paulini’s “My Island Home” underscores the fact that we live on an island and our urgent need to protect our home. The afterparty was meticulously curated by artists Daimon Downey and Dan Lywood, where music and vocals were beautifully combined.

ZERO-WASTE MENU

Our catering partner, Laissez Faire, curated a menu with sustainability in mind, featuring a zero-waste approach where nothing went to waste. Arrival canapés included fried Akoya oysters, a native oyster that revitalizes Albany, WA’s fisheries. Oyster farms filter the ocean and absorb atmospheric carbon. We also served toasted mushrooms and brioche fingers, as mushrooms play a significant role in a sustainable future. For the main course, we had roasted cobia from Rocky Point Aquaculture, a highly sustainable fish farm near the QLD border that won the Producer of the Year Award. The seared and roasted fish was served with a rich broth made from its roasted bones. By utilising the entire fish, the dish was full of flavour and nutrients. All food was cooked on-site.

OUR GRATITUDE TO ALL OUR PARTNERS

We want to first thank our collaboration partner, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the entire team led by director Michael Brand and director of audiences and development John Richardson for working with Sapphire's team to tackle the challenges together, collaborating also on Art Gallery equipment, staff, wines and coordinating the monumental task of logistics for the two-day bump-in. We thank our platinum sponsors, d’strict and XIMI Media, and our gold partners Moët & Chandon, Hennessy, and Range Rover for supporting this event to ensure every dollar raised goes to impactful ocean conservation. Many components of the night were either donated, contributed at cost or heavily discounted. Finally, we want to thank our production partner, Scope Productions, for their dedication and hard work in realising our event vision with a minimum budget, and making the impossible happen!

We hope this gives you a glimpse into the extensive efforts and creative solutions that went into making the Sapphire Dinner a success, and thank you for taking part in this year’s Sapphire Dinner and for your support of ocean conservation.

An impact report will be available from all supported organisations in March 2025.

If you have any feedback of our event, please feel free to fill out an online form on Contact Us page.

Watch this fascinating journey of the Tank, as the Art Gallery of New South Wales director Michael Brand shares the story of the Tank. Filmed on Gadigal Country.