The Origami “Folding Light and Sound” Festival, hosted in Gosford, has won the 2024 Business NSW Award for the Visitor Economy category, which celebrates innovative projects throughout the state over the past year.
Central Coast businesses were well-represented as finalists across all categories, with entries from 11 NSW regions.
Notable Central Coast finalists included:
- Central Coast Sports College – Outstanding Business Leader
- Central Coast Mariners – Excellence in Large Business
- Signarama Tuggerah – Excellence in Innovation
- Pacific Link Housing – Excellence in Housing
This year, however, the FunHaus Factory’s annual Origami Festival was the only Central Coast winner at the prestigious event.
Often described as the “Academy Awards” of business in NSW, the Business NSW Awards recognise the ingenuity, resilience, and dedication of enterprises statewide.
The Business Awards had Premier Chris Minns and Shadow Premier Mark Speakman in attendance and is the signature event that embodies Business in NSW.
Gosford’s Origami Festival, an experimental arts event featuring live music, performance art, projections, and immersive light displays, competed with Sydney’s Luna Park “Sydney in the Dark” program for top honours.
Origami serves as a powerful metaphor for Gosford’s evolving approach to cultural tourism, showcasing a unique blend of creativity and innovation.
This year’s festival marked a 30% increase in capacity, becoming the largest single event ever held at the Edogawa Japanese Garden.
The expansion attracted visitors from across NSW, boosting regional visitation by 20% and affirming the festival as a “must-see” annual event for locals and tourists alike.
Festival Director Glitta Supernova commented on the award “Our team has worked tirelessly & against some unbelievable challenges to develop an innovative festival, something original and fresh, a standout that makes you want to come to Gosford.
“This award is not just one for the team who made the impossible happen but also reflects the unique spirit of Gosford to deliver and celebrate as our emerging region.
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Origami Festival a finalist in NSW Business Awards