{"id":940,"date":"2021-09-20T09:00:55","date_gmt":"2021-09-19T23:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/?p=940"},"modified":"2025-12-04T11:47:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T01:17:22","slug":"leecumberlidge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/2021\/09\/20\/leecumberlidge\/","title":{"rendered":"Illuminating Adelaide"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nLee Cumberlidge has always liked throwing parties but never thought he would do it for a living.<\/em><\/p>\n

One of the first graduates from Flinders University\u2019s Cultural Tourism degree (now Tourism and Events), Lee Cumberlidge (BCulT \u201900) has thrown one of the brightest public parties Adelaide has ever seen \u2013 illuminating the city during winter as co-founder and creative director of Illuminate Adelaide.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018By transforming the city with light installations at night, we created a magical place that people least expected and spread through several precincts across the city, to make a really big artistic statement,\u2019 says Lee.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s an idea that came through wanting to create a brand new event for Adelaide, and winter seemed to provide a window of opportunity to do something unique.\u2019<\/p>\n

Despite being temporarily impacted by a COVID-19 lockdown, the incredible event saw 40 free illuminated installations and more than 200 events across Adelaide delight thousands of people during July and August this year.<\/p>\n

The event was part of a continuing success story for a producer and curator who has scaled the heights of Australia\u2019s most famous cultural events over the past two decades.<\/p>\n

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\nCULTURAL EVENT EXPERIENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lee produced the Cultural Festival for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and co-founded and produced Mona\u2019s Festival of Music and Art (MONA FOMA) in Hobart from 2009 to 2021.<\/p>\n

He is now a Director of Arts Projects Australia (responsible for WOMADelaide and many national touring productions), a Director of Insite Arts, and a Director of the Illuminate Adelaide Foundation \u2013 which presented Illuminate Adelaide.<\/p>\n

A DEGREE OF SUCCESS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lee says his education at Flinders University set him on the path to success. Combining arts, business and tourism, Lee\u2019s Flinders degree gave him the confidence to pursue a career in the arts.<\/p>\n

\u2018Before I studied at Flinders, I wasn\u2019t aware that directing arts events was even a viable possibility, as I have never been an artist myself,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n

After graduating, Lee worked for Arts Projects Australia on WOMADelaide, and toured international productions to Australia.<\/p>\n

\u2018What I learned at Uni was quickly put into action, and I found that I really enjoyed the creative process. I came to understand the depth of the industry \u2013 where business and creativity work together to create strong, sustainable events that benefit so many different stakeholders.\u2019<\/p>\n

DEVELOPING AUDIENCES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lee says making ideas come to life through events is incredibly satisfying, as they have an empowering effect for those who are experiencing artistic presentations for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve become so passionate about nurturing new audiences for arts events. By creating interesting events, we can share the amazing work that is happening in South Australia across many creative areas \u2013 from performance to technology,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n

THE FUTURE OF ILLUMINATE<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018We deliberately designed Illuminate Adelaide to be a huge event from the outset. I believe you must start an event as you intend it to continue \u2013 not to grow into it slowly. We were determined to show its full potential immediately.\u2019<\/p>\n

Illuminate Adelaide has three years of guaranteed seed funding from the SA Government, but Lee is determined to push his creative energies further, to foster more great events.<\/p>\n

\u2018I want to make Illuminate Adelaide part of the city\u2019s DNA, but I also want to continue the great work of Arts Projects Australia with my co-director and mentor Ian Scobie,\u2019 says Lee.<\/p>\n

\u2018There are many exciting days ahead.\u2019<\/p>\n

Lee Cumberlidge was awarded a 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award for <\/strong>his<\/strong> distinguished leadership, creativity and commitment to arts <\/strong><\/em>management and artists, and for bringing innovative projects <\/strong><\/em>to life for audiences to enjoy. Read more on the Flinders University Alumni Awards<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This article is from the 2021 Encounter\u00a0<\/em>magazine: Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

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