The Umbrella Project celebrating neurodiversity
Aberdeen Inspired and the ADHD Foundation have launched The Umbrella Project. A colourful summer installation with umbrella canopies in Aberdeen City Centre.
Dr Tony Lloyd of the ADHD Foundation and Adrian Watson of Aberdeen Inspired hosted a special weekend of celebrations. Organisers held a launch event on Saturday, where they welcomed sponsors, spectators, and performers. And so under the umbrellas on Shiprow and Bon-Accord Terrace, local groups like Robert Gordon College Pipe Band, Sinclair School of Highland Dancing, Citymoves, and Danscentre performed for spectators.
Multi-coloured umbrellas suspended across city centre streets celebrate the umbrella term of neurodiversity, including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia. You can see these vibrant installations hanging across Shiprow Village and Bon-Accord Terrace in Aberdeen’s city centre until September 2022.
Additionally, the project aims to raise awareness of the support that is available to individuals and families. Scotland welcomes The Umbrella Project for the first time after huge success in other UK locations.
The Umbrella Project flips the narrative
Adrian Watson told us how thrilled he was about the launch of The Umbrella Project. He said: “We are delighted that so many businesses and schools across Aberdeen City and the Shire have signed up to have mini-installations to celebrate neurodiversity”
“We are not only proud to bring such an uplifting project to the city for the first time. We’re also playing such an important part in flipping the narrative of neurodiverse individuals. Instead, we recognise the strengths and abilities of those with cognitive differences.
“The displays will encourage people from all walks of life to come into the city centre, and enjoy all it has to offer. Visitors can also take part in the celebrations and embrace the joy of the multi-coloured installations.”
“We expect the Umbrellas to become one of Aberdeen’s most exciting and anticipated installations, which will not only capture the hearts and minds of people from across the city but also raise awareness of the importance of the neurodiverse world we live in where one in five people are neurodivergent.”
As part of ADHD’s national campaign, the Umbrella Project also invites people across the UK to celebrate neurodiversity by thinking differently about the 1 in 5 people who are neurodivergent.
The campaign will run across hundreds of Clear Channel’s digital Out of Home screens nationwide. This will include large public outdoor Umbrella Project installations in every country. It will also bring together a slew of new celebrity patrons.
Dr Tony Lloyd of the ADHD Foundation told us that the enthusiasm behind this campaign is a testament to his visionary partners. “More and more we’re seeing society change how it views neurodiversity. Business, education and entertainment. We’re finally beginning to shift away from associating neurodiversity with ‘low ability.’”
The project will be in place until September 2022.
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Kevin Mitchell and Chris Sansbury founded POST. This was from a desire to cut through the noise to share the great things that happen in Aberdeen. They focus on community, culture and also the interesting people of the city. The local artists, businesses and charities; photographers, musicians and entertainers. These are the people that make a positive impact on our city every day. So they use video, audio, writing and social media to amplify the voices in our community. And to ultimately give a platform to Aberdeen folk to engage and tell their own stories.
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