By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–The New Children’s Museum is putting a greater emphasis on providing sensory-friendly programming, services, and healing spaces for neurodivergent individuals and others needing a sensory-friendly experience.
As part of this effort, the arts-based children’s museum commissioned Michelle Montjoy for Breathing Room, a new art installation that provides a calm respite in an otherwise highly interactive environment. The first phase of the installation opened on June 11.
“The New Children’s Museum has an opportunity as the world evolves post-pandemic to further establish itself as a place of creativity, play, and comprehensive learning for all audiences,” said Elizabeth Yang-Hellewell, Executive Director and CEO. “We’re seeing a much greater need for safe, welcoming, sensory supportive spaces for children and adults. At The New Children’s Museum, we are moving towards an arts-based model that can support a diverse array of sensory preferences and needs.”
Breathing Room is a quiet space on the museum’s main level that welcomes visitors with calming colors and hanging textile sculptures that gently move up and down. The rhythmic movement of the soft, hand-knitted elements replicates breathing cycles, allowing visitors to slow down and relax.
“It has been deeply moving to work with The New Children’s Museum to make this warm and welcoming space,” said artist Michelle Montjoy, who was onsite Saturday observing how visitors reacted to her installation. “With the mesmerizing movement overhead, soothing colors, soft pillows, and comfortable spots to cozy up in, Breathing Room gives visitors a chance to lie on their backs, take a pause and just breathe.”
As part of the creative process, Montjoy and the museum will observe how visitors engage in the space over the next two months, which will help inform the next phase. Planned for September, phase two will include additional hand-knitted elements, made of repurposed T-shirts to match the initial sculptures: pods to climb into, puddles to relax in, and weighted sweaters to be wrapped in, each providing additional opportunities for calming comfort and a sense of security.
Concurrently, the museum is working with Xenia Sholl from Sensory-Friendly San Diego to create a Sensory Guide that will help guests with neurodiversity, autism and other special needs navigate the Museum and locate the installations, spaces, and services best suited for the experience they are looking for.
“Our Sensory Guides help folks of all ages with sensory or social needs prepare for what to expect, ways to participate, and how to seek out resources if they need support,” explained Xenia Sholl, Founder and Project Director at Sensory-Friendly San Diego. “Made by and for the neurodivergent community, Sensory Guides include 3-D tours, audio clips, and visual guides to help create an inclusive space even before people come visit!”
Breathing Room, the museum currently offers several quieter, more sensory-friendly spaces, including tikitiko (Tanya Aguiñiga), The Rain House (Ernest Silva), and the outdoor Clay Studio. The museum also offers noise-canceling headphones and provides other special accommodations upon request. The Sensory Guide is set to come out later this summer.
