A new annual winter event will take over Adelaide’s city streets, laneways and buildings from July 2021 with light, art installations, immersive technology, music, performance, discussions and ideas.
Illuminate Adelaide will run over two weeks and three weekends during the traditionally quieter winter months. An event of global significance and distinctively South Australian, Illuminate Adelaide will present a new event concept which celebrates the union between future technology and creative industries.
A program of free and ticketed events for all ages, Illuminate Adelaide will present projects exclusive to Adelaide, enticing visitors from across South Australia as well as interstate and overseas.
Home Grown Creative Leaders, Rachael Azzopardi and Lee Cumberlidge join forces as Co-Founders and Creative Directors and will work in collaboration with the city’s cultural, academic and science institutions.
This major event for South Australia will feature key local, national and international ‘makers’, in addition to local artists, cultural institutions and businesses and the state’s own entrepreneurial community.
“Here in South Australia, there is so much extraordinary work happening and so many talented and incredible innovators in the areas of future technologies, arts and creative industries,” said Rachael Azzopardi and Lee Cumberlidge.
“After attaining support from the government in May, we have been building a team of dedicated individuals who have already started working on the crucial aspects of the inaugural 2021 event, we are really excited to announce initial programming elements later in the year.
“Illuminate Adelaide, with the support of the State Government, will provide a platform and vital new opportunities to bring these sectors together and showcase them in a collaborative celebration for all South Australians and visitors to the state,” said Azzopardi and Cumberlidge.
Serving as a unifying opportunity for existing winter events and activations, Illuminate Adelaide will further encourage city-wide exploration of all that Adelaide has to offer, driving and expanding visitation and embedding creativity and technology onto Adelaide’s streets in the cooler winter months.
Premier Steven Marshall said a new annual major winter event will be an important highlight on South Australia’s event calendar and comes at a critical time.
“The State Government has been looking to secure a major winter event for Adelaide and it is fantastic news to be able to announce this for 2021,” said Mr Marshall. “South Australia is a leader in the arts and future technology, and this event brings those together in what will be a huge drawcard for tourism into Adelaide during the usually quieter winter period.”
“For sectors like the arts, creative industries and tourism, which have been hit by both bushfires and COVID-19, Illuminate Adelaide will be critical for enticing visitors into the city and into cafes, restaurants, hotels and retail, and recovering our state’s $7.8 billion visitor economy,” said Mr Marshall.
The event will be presented by Illuminate Adelaide Foundation Ltd, under the curation and leadership of its co-Founders and Creative Directors Rachael Azzopardi and Lee Cumberlidge. Illuminate Adelaide Foundation will partner with SA-based company Arts Projects Australia for the management and presentation of the event.
Illuminate Adelaide has worked in close collaboration with the South Australian Tourism Commission through Events South Australia to create this exciting new major winter event for South Australia.
An initial program announcement for the inaugural event will be made in early 2021. For more information, visit: www.illuminateadelaide.com for details.
Image: Rachael Azzopardi, Premier Steven Marshall and Lee Cumberlidge (supplied)