This coming Sunday, April 28th, Merrion Square Park in Dublin will be hosting a ground-breaking celebration honouring the neurodiverse community. Named Sensoria, this unique festival is the first of its kind to both accommodate and celebrate the neurodivergent population through a carefully curated and imaginative live outdoor event. Despite being a free admission event, all tickets have been snapped up, underscoring the festival’s commendable goal – promoting recognition, equality, and integration for those who are neurodiverse in a welcoming and secure environment.
This Dublin City Council-sponsored event will be operating in two segments. To cater to the diverse needs of its attendees, the park will be segmented into zones featuring both active and tranquil performances, hands-on workshops, and a varied array of activities. Spaces set up include a central stage, performance and workshop tents, spaces for street theatre, a sensational aerial show, a sensory dome, an engaging sensory garden, a fun-filled sensory messy play zone, and the grand dig.
In the words of the Lord Mayor, Daithí de Róiste, “We are thrilled to be organising this unparalleled event. Much like the innovative creation of a calm space in the heart of the St. Patrick’s Day parade, we want to assure Dublin residents, this city belongs to you. Neurodiverse individuals constantly modify their approach to navigate our city. What we aim to do with Sensoria is just to meet them in the middle.” He stated, asserting Dublin’s propensity for hosting successful festivals.
He expanded on this by suggesting the possibility of a festival specifically created with the neurodiverse in mind. “Imagine a tranquil festival, with a reduced crowd of just 6,000 over two sessions, where all neurodiverse individuals can feel comfortable. During my campaign, I made it clear that, while I may not be capable of resolving waiting lists and HSE concerns, I can pave the way for a more inclusive Dublin.”
The design and execution of this festival have involved productive consultations with AsIAm and Neurodiversity Ireland, ensuring an experience that is both inclusive and considerate to the neurodiverse population.
Emma Weld Moore, a mother to three children, two of which are neurodivergent, recognises that family experiences can prove challenging in this context. Taking her children out often requires two adults due to her daughter’s inclination towards exploration, particularly in new settings. This situation can result in family occasions being denied or split apart. Consequently, Emma embraces the prospect of attending a family-friendly occasion like the Sensoria festival, specifically tailored for families with neurodivergent members.
Sensoria, touted as a breakthrough for accessibility by Adam Harris, the CEO of AsIAm, an autism charity, aims to provide an inclusive experience for autistic individuals, who are typically unable to participate in common family and cultural events. Apparently, at least one in every 27 Irish people face this issue, making this festival notably significant.
Emily Mullock, a representative of AsIAm’s youth leadership team, shares the excitement surrounding the event specifically designed to be accessible for neurodivergent people. It also serves as a platform to recognise and celebrate neurodiversity in a fun and safe environment where individuals can express their authentic personalities.
Moreover, in an attempt to reach and cater to the neurodivergent community, Karen Walshe, festival programme manager at Archetype, explained how they ensure all festival signage is designed to be instantly understood upon arrival. Pre-event material, including the graphics, artist schedule, maps, and trader lists, will also be sent to all attendees in advance for better planning and preparation.
Parents can exhibit their plan to their offspring, outlining the sequences of our journey before getting back home. This ensures a comprehensive system of preparation, which is crucial for families with neurodiverse progenies who are keen to participate.
Among the artists gracing the festival is Moss Russell, a performer living with autism and ADHD, and also the parent of two neurodiverse youngsters aged 10 and 13. An invitation from Walshe to participate in the festival left Russell overwhelmed due to the depth of understanding manifested in the event. She admitted that no comparable event has previously been held in Ireland, highlighting a clear need for it. Hence, she was thrilled with the direction targeted at the neurodiverse community and expressed her yearning to be an integral part of it through creation.
To fulfil her desire, Russell introduced her ineffably captivating one-woman performance, Squish, Stomp, Spin — the Magic of Stim on the festival’s centrepiece celebration. It was aimed at reducing the awkwardness linked to stimming and general social attitude towards autistic individuals through stories. Russell described the performance as an Aesop-esque allegory, filled with teachings and illustrations showcasing distressing experiences typical for people with autism, with an ultimate goal of inspiring everyone to explore stimming and freely express themselves through movements.
Russell expressed her delight over the organisation of the festival, noting that currently, the world is lacking autistic artwork. She believes that change will emanate from the establishment of such art, cultural influence will follow, leading to policy alterations. According to her, a society friendly to individuals on the autism spectrum will invariably be welcoming to all.