Blue Mountains Cultural Centre embraces neurodiversity with new sensory exhibition

Blue Mountains Cultural Centre has worked closely with Katoomba Neurodiversity Hub to develop ‘sensorial’ - a new exhibition inviting guests to embrace all their senses, move beyond sight and engage with touch and play. 

sensorial has been created with the neurodivergent community in mind and aims to be an inclusive space. Those who are often overwhelmed by bright lights and loud noises may find this a particularly welcoming space.

The exhibition consists of immersive environments that can be experienced through a variety of senses. Visitors can engage at their own level, either looking at the creative installations or participating in them by gently touching, hugging, interacting, and listening. 

Neurodiversity Hub founder Michelle Swan and art therapist Amy Bell worked with participants to develop an artwork titled Explore the possibilities, a fully interactive backyard landscape that has been impacted by an alien craft.

Bell explains some of the meaning behind the Neurodiversity Hub’s artistic contribution “Space is the limitless unknown. The parallels to the experience of neurodivergent people are contained in that theme; feeling ‘alien’ or at once expansive and isolated yet connected.

“Exploring the senses through this theme has been an opportunity to go into deep space – to  expand my understanding of neurodiversity and the benefits of trusting the process.”

Swan added “The experience of so many neurodivergent people feeling different, and other, and outside is common, so exploring with our community ways to create in a way that could be interacted with inclusively was interesting, challenging and enjoyable.”

Gallery visitors are invited to leave their preconceived notions about galleries at the door and touch, play and engage with all aspects of this artwork. 

In addition to sensorial, visitors to the Gallery can engage with a Pompom Forest, a public art engagement that will be installed in the reception area. Pompoms are a tactile and textural item, and the act of making them can be meditative. Cultural Centre Volunteer Team members will be on hand to assist visitors in making their own pompom for the duration of the exhibition. 

sensorial is on exhibition until Sunday 12th November and is supported by the Dobell Exhibition Grant, funded by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, and managed by Museums & Galleries of NSW.

Photo: Charles Lloyd Jones, Chris Tobin, Rilka Oakley and Kelsie King