Mirvac Retail has announced a partnership with the Australian National Maritime Museum to showcase a number of exhibits in a series of free activations for visitors to its MetCentre, Harbourside and Greenwood Plaza shopping centres, all live now until April 15.

Committed to bringing rich cultural experiences to its communities, the agreement demonstrates the mutual support between the two organisations with both the museum and Mirvac looking for exciting new ways to encourage people back into Sydney city.

The exhibits have been carefully curated to align with some of Mirvac’s own values of sustainability, legacy, the arts and design. Both MetCentre and Greenwood feature installations from Sydney-based coastal warrior artist, Marina DeBris, who has made a name for herself collecting debris from Sydney’s shoreline and transforming it into wearable couture fashion.

Marina DeBris, Feeding Frenzy, MetCentre

Harbourside is now showcasing the museum’s ‘Aussie Cozzie’ swimsuit exhibit as well as a black and white photographic exhibition of Sydney Harbour in the early 1900s, taken by Sydney photographer and photojournalist, Samuel (Sam) J Hood, whose career spanned 70 years from the 1880s to the 1950s. His work continues to captivate and inspire online audiences today.

“We are excited to partner with the Australian National Maritime Museum as we look to create meaningful ways to encourage people back to the Sydney CBD,” said Michael Hariz, National Manager Commercialisation and Partnerships, Mirvac Commercial Property. “The museum has been impacted by the drop off in international tourism and so we are confident our installations will remind people of the fantastic curation of arts, culture and stories on show at the Maritime Museum.”

Sam Hood, Harbourside

“Partnering with Mirvac Retail gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our work outside the museum,” said Michael Harvey, Assistant Director and Chief Experience Officer at the museum. “It provides a chance to share our stories and collections, and give people a taste of what is on offer at the museum in places they wouldn’t expect us to be. Now is a great opportunity for Sydneysiders to rediscover attractions they may have not visited for some time.”

This initiative is yet another innovative concept from Mirvac Retail designed to create exciting and unique experiences for its customers. A partnership with immersive event producers, Viral Ventures, saw Mirvac launch its popular Big Bake event at MetCentre this month. Understanding there is a need for more intimate experiences among consumers, Viral Ventures has converted what was once a city alfresco restaurant venue into a late-trading hospitality and event space, hosting interactive bake-off events with renowned pastry chefs. Everyone from couples, to corporates, groups and families can book a new kind of experience, coming into retail.

“As the CBD begins to welcome increasing numbers of workers back to the office, we are looking for new ways to utilise our available retail spaces, providing experiences for team building and genuine engagement, as many have been lacking these opportunities of late,” added Hariz. “Partnerships like these are the beginning of where we are looking to take Retail and the wider Commercial Property business. Mirvac’s diversified capability and our audience across the property sector enables a unique targeted platform for brands to reach their customers at home, office and shopping centres.”