Martin Place will light up for the very first time during this year’s Vivid Sydney, with seven spectacular light installations transforming the bustling thoroughfare into a gallery of light.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Andrew Stoner said Martin Place is one of five new Vivid Sydney precincts in 2014, together with Carriageworks, The University of Sydney, The Star and Harbour Lights.

“Vivid Sydney kicks off this Friday and promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with visitors now able to follow an unbroken trail of light from Circular Quay to North Sydney,” Mr Stoner said.

“Martin Place is set to take Vivid Sydney by storm, with an amazing line up of light installations and 3D mapped projections which will astound and amuse festival goers.

“Expanding Vivid to take in areas like Martin Place will make this year’s festival bigger than ever, and draws upon last year’s success which saw more than 800,000 visitors attend and generate more than $20m in economic activity.

“Vivid Sydney is one of many major events supported by the NSW Government and helps achieve our goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure by 2020.

“By attracting visitors to Sydney during the traditionally-quiet winter period, Vivid Sydney also provides a welcome boost to many of the city’s shops, restaurants, cafes and bars,” he said.

As part of the Vivid Sydney festival, Martin Place will be home to:

· Colour3, a pop-up café constructed from a maze of industrial water tanks. Illuminated by pixel-mapped LEDs, Colour3 will infuse with different pallets of light at the push of a button, creating a unique atmosphere for festival goers wanting a break before taking in Vivid Sydney’s other fantastic sights. It will be open for business, 6pm to midnight, from 23 May to 9 June.

· An interactive Digital Forest of 120 LED 3D glowing tubes with games and technology displays, installed by Vivid Sydney partner, Intel.

· Sky Flower will illuminate the night sky with petals of light which dance and sway before it releases a steamy, sweet-scented haze to add to the airy ambiance of Martin Place.

· Light sculpture, e|MERGEnce, uses 3D projection mixed with interactive technology and fabrication techniques, to map a person’s face onto a giant head through live video captures.

“Vivid Sydney will also pay homage to the Australian Armed Forces for World War I, by respectfully lighting the Cenotaph in recognition of those who have fallen in service of our country. Martin Place is known for many things, but none more important than the home of Sydney’s Cenotaph, a place of respect and reflection,” Mr Stoner said.