Studio Safari was barely recognisable when Kate Dyer moved her new business to Ifould Street in May.
The site, the rear of a tenancy on Flinders Street, looked like the back of the building that “wasn’t very exciting” and in need of TLC.
Seeing the good in every situation, Ms Dyer decided her new tenancy would be a blank canvas where she could let her creative prowess run wild.
She turned to the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) for support and successfully secured herself a Shopfront Improvement Grant, funded by the City of Adelaide, through Reignite Adelaide.
“We needed to help people find the studio better because it was just a blank wall that blended into the surroundings,” Ms Dyer said.
“Especially because it is tucked into (Ifould Street) and off the main drag.”
Ms Dyer received a $10,000 grant to enhance the presentation of Studio Safari, a space for photography, content creation, workshops and events, and commissioned a mural that spanned across the entire shopfront.
She engaged artist Lucinda Penn to make her brief a reality — a bright, bold and colourful mural to compliment her business’ style.
The mural is titled Creative Safari, true to her business model about being a hub for creativity.
“She is a younger female artist, so I was very happy to be able to support her,” she said.
“She is also a resident of the City of Adelaide … which is an added bonus.”
During the two-and-a-half weeks of painting, people would stop to talk to Ms Dyer and Penn eager to see the final product and how it would revitalise the street.
“Now anyone that has been into the studio since the mural was completed talks about it as soon as they come in because it is so impactful,” she said.
“It makes the building easy to spot from far away.”
Ms Dyer said working with the Adelaide Economic Agency was a “great” experience.
Find out about other opportunities and grants available through AEDA.
Pictures: Provided by Kate Dyer