An immersive maze of light and music with specific attention for people who are neurodiverse.
City of Melbourne celebrated the 2024 winter solstice with their annual Firelight Festival featuring live music and fire displays located around the Docklands & New Quay Promenade district. This year, a new premier activation the “Labyrinth”, was offered. A section of Marvel Stadium’s Basement Car Park was transformed into an immersive maze of light and music.
Architecture & Access was commissioned to provide specific advice in regard to the provision of sensory friendly sessions and other features to support patrons living with neurodiversity to enjoy and fully participate in this exciting luminary experience. With years of professional experience working on events, and decades of lived experience as the mother of an autistic daughter, Access Consultant Ellen Naismith was able to provide the Labyrinth designers and organisers expert guidance.
Recommendations specific to the Sensory Sessions included lighting levels, sound/music intensity, accessible seating options, crowd density and staff awareness. During review of the proposed plans, Ellen identified an opportunity to transform an unused area into an alternative viewing area. City of Melbourne created the ‘Relaxed Seating Space’, and provided seating options and wheelchair seating spaces for patrons who may find the maze itself overwhelming, or for whom standing/walking for long periods is difficult and who would appreciate a place to sit and observe the standard setting lighting & sound effects in a more open and less crowded space.
Ellen’s daughter Jessica made use of the Relaxed Seating Area when she experienced the Labyrinth in her own way.
Event staff commented that the Relaxed Seating Area was well used and greatly appreciated. With seating located within and next to the maze; with sessions of high intensity; or with low sensory sessions that limited crowd numbers, City of Melbourne provided an accessible and inclusive experience that enabled patrons to choose how they explored the Labyrinth.
Images by Adam Reynard, provided by City of Melbourne and Ellen Naismith (Access Consultant)
