Meet Mighty Mack - Midsumma's Production Manager
With an extensive background and knowledge in the arts and particularly festivals the team at Midsumma are very excited to have Mack on board for Midsumma Festival 2020 (and hopefully beyond). A producer of video content and events, Mack has recently made the move south across the border from Sydney where she was lead on many cultural and LGBTQIA+ events, as well as Co-Executive Director of indeqx.
As a dedicated experience creator, I'm sure you won't be surprised to see Mack's extra finishing touches across Midsumma Festival 2020.
This month, we introduce Mack Ebelt – our Production Manager.
Q: Describe yourself in three words: Make a ruckus
Q: What were you doing before Midsumma? Before Midsumma, I was working on Parrtjima Festival in Mwparntwe / Alice Springs, which is a unique light and projection event celebrating indigenous culture and art through the newest technology. Upon the 300-million-year-old landscape, we projected stories of kinship and language as told by the local Arrernte people, along with a program of talks, interactive workshops, and films. Before Parrtjima, I had many roles within event production in Sydney, and have worked on Vivid, Sydney New Years Eve, Sydney Mardi Gras, and NRL Grand Final days amongst others. Last year, I also started a little online directory called indeqx, listing all LGBTIQA+ community groups and organisations around Australia.
Q: Where do you see yourself in five years? Managing a container-based eco village, resort and function space myself and my partner have created somewhere in regional Victoria, surrounded by rescue animals.
Q: What drew you to working in the arts industry? When I was 18, I’d begun studying journalism in vein, knowing that I loved writing but I didn’t particularly want to be part of the media scrum. In a moment of pause, I found myself on the barriers at Mardi Gras, my first year enjoying it as someone of age, and I saw theatre majors that I went to university with leading floats up the route, wearing giant headphones and carrying very official-looking clipboards, and I thought – hey, I want to do that too! I was drawn to the ability that festivals have in creating space for people to celebrate and be inspired through experiences and performances. The next year, I was on the Parade Working Group, volunteering my time for about 6 years after that, to put on the biggest street parade in the southern hemisphere. Through my time there, I was able to make professional connections that led me into the work I do today.
Q: What’s your favourite way to spend a weekend? Sleep in, yoga, play with dogs, read, and bake.
Q: What is your must-see production/show/event of the year? Tropical Fruits. If you haven’t gone and braved the humidity, communed with the locals, camped in a swamp, decorated party venues, and experienced the euphoria of hitting midnight on New Year’s Eve surrounded by only bush for kilometres, then I implore you to either attend or volunteer.
Q: What is your favourite song and why? ‘Let There Be Love’ by Christina Aguileira, and I believe this choice needs no explanation. Its fabulousness should speak for itself.
Find out more about Mack on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram.
Get in touch with Midsumma Festival to chat with Mack, or see more from our team by meeting Alan.
