Set in the Art Gallery of NSW’s subterranean art space, the Tank, the 2024 Sapphire Dinner was nothing less than iconic. The first-ever sit-down gala event held in this monumental industrial space, this was a sensory-rich experience brought to life with technical precision, powerful storytelling and a deftly curated sense of luxury.
We integrated physical and virtual realms, emotive soundscapes and the scent of the ocean into an underwater sensory playground that coursed around the seven-metre-high space. Stunningly beautiful and powerfully effective, this was a night that captivated guests – and broke records, attracting Australia’s leading philanthropists and raising over $1.5 million for ocean conservation.
The venue came with significant technical hurdles that required us to think creatively to overcome sonic and visual challenges. A decommissioned fuel bunker, the Tank is constructed from concrete and surrounded by sandstone, resulting in an incredible 18-second reverb. To manage this, our audio engineers create a massive ‘sound bubble’ to encase guests.
Sight lines were challenged by the architecture of the space and 125 structural columns. We addressed this by positioning the main stage and 26-metre-long LED wall on the east side, so that we could provide primary content line-of-sight for every guest. And multiple projection mappings across a deep visual field on the north and south walls enhanced the dramatic ambience of the space, while delivering a multifaceted and emotive narrative.
Layered with light, movement, and sound, this sensory playground was interwoven with warmth, texture, and rhythm, creating an impact far greater than the sum of its parts. The event reflects Scope’s expansive expertise in event curation, our dedication to causes as important as this, and a commitment to telling stories in a way that brings out their truth.
