More than 300 umbrellas will take flight over Vaughan Place transforming it into Umbrella place, courtesy of local entrepreneur and arts facilitator Kiriay Mackie.
Inspired by a similar installation at AgitAgueda Art Festival in Portugal, Kiriay will be using her background in hospitality and events as well as her passion and drive in providing spaces for emerging artists, to oversee the hanging of the umbrellas.
“I have worked in hospitality and events for ten years in the UK and in Adelaide,” Kiriay says.
“I have my own business, which is a cocktail and events business, and I’ve worked festivals across the world. The Umbrella thing came up because I went to one of the event information nights and I was listening and was inspired by what they were talking about.”
If you’re strolling through Vaughan Place during Umbrella: Winter City Sounds, be sure to look up. “From the guest perspective it will be quite appealing looking up into the sky,” Kiriay says.
“I like the idea it’s under cover and kind of a safe space to enjoy the music. Vaughan Place is fairly well-known; there are a lot of local establishments there. It’s that alleyway that goes past The Exeter and the gin bar as well.”
Kiriay says she wants Umbrella Place to act as a visual lure for Umbrella: Winter City Sounds by piquing the interest of both residents and newcomers.
“I think it would be cool as an interactive space for passers-by and locals to go ‘whoa, what’s that, what’s going on?’ and perhaps get them more engaged with what Umbrella is and get them interested in going to more local venues, because that’s what it’s all about – highlighting local music and local music venues,” she says.
Umbrella Place will also serve as a performance space for a series of live music events as part of the Umbrella programme, and Kiriay additionally hopes to attract the talents of Adelaide’s aspiring musical community. “We’re focussing on local artists and some Indigenous artists as well,” she says.
“It will be cool to have that space available to host live music events and in the downtime when we’re not using it encourage local buskers to come down from Rundle Mall and get involved in that area.”
To find out about what’s on at Umbrella Place, Kiriay says it’s best to stay tuned to @umbrellaplace on Facebook and Instagram.
