The Umbrellas of Águeda

A colorful canopy of umbrellas, a part of the Agitagueda art festival in Águeda, Portugal. Photo by Patrícia Almeida

At this year’s Agitagueda art festival in Águeda, Portugal, the city council commissioned a canopy of colorful umbrellas to hang over one of the city streets. Photographer Patrícia Almeida says “I felt like a kid, amazed by all that color!”

Not only do these beautiful umbrellas add a sense of playfulness to this street but they add a ton of shade, making strolling down this pedestrian street on a warm day a much more comfortable experience.

Public art can create a destination, a gathering place, a refuge, inspiration and a sense of civic pride and it’s wonderful to see local government supporting and encouraging such dynamic public art projects like this one.