Art spaces across Australia are adding to and tailoring their programming to welcome children and adults with individual needs, their carers, family and friends. Access for disabled art lovers, people with dementia, and those with hidden disability is provided in most major art spaces. We thought we’d offer a round-up (but not exhaustive list) of services from your favourite art galleries to increase access and support the good initiatives they are presenting. You can also look to support organisations who offer tips, such as Aspect who have a contemporary calendar of events listed here.
All the institutions mentioned below encourage you to contact them ahead of time if you have individual needs, a request or want to have a chat about making the most of your upcoming visit.
Sydney
The MCA in Sydney promotes access for everyone. They share special events on their website, so dip in and enjoy! Coming up on the 29th of October is the Artful Community Day which supports people with dementia, there are also sessions for neurodivergent children in Access Social and a version for adults. Like many other galleries they also provide a sensory map of the space.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales have a range of programs to suit people with individual needs. One of several ways to engage with art is their ‘Tactile and sensory’ tours. These are described as an opportunity to ‘experience the tactile qualities of bronze and marble, led by an experienced guide. Selected sculptures in our collection are available to be explored through touch in our tour titled The human body in 19th- and 20th-century sculpture. There is also a sensory trolley of tactile materials and props, which is used to support audio-descriptions of other artworks, and tours can incorporate an art-making workshop.’
The Australian Musuem has a step by step visual guide on how to prepare for your visit, with many useful inclusions.
Melbourne
The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) list their accessibility options online and suggest visiting for a ‘relaxed session’ of your desired exhibition. They also offer free resources such as earplugs, fidget spinners, and activity sheets.
Canberra
The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra offer free to borrow Sensory Kits that you can collect at the front desk. The NPG says “These kits are designed to ensure an accessible and enjoyable experience for young visitors. Equipped with helpful tools, they empower children to confidently and comfortably explore the Gallery.” The NPG also reserves ‘quiet time’ and ‘relaxed mornings’ sessions for people to visit the environment with less sensory stimulation.
The National Gallery of Australia hosts ‘Sensory Sunday’ on the first Sunday of every month in which they modify light and sound. In addition there are programs, on request, to engage with art as a carer, for someone with dementia, for wellbeing and also in Auslan; check out the itinerary here.
Brisbane
The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, known as QAGOMA offer low sensory tours of their major exhibitions, just check out their events calendar when there is a show on that takes your fancy! Like the NPG they offer free for loan sensory kits, and also partner with the Hidden Disability Sunflower Program whose sunflower lanyard can be worn as a subtle sign that you are a person with a condition that can’t be seen such as chronic health conditions like arthritis, diabetes, long covid, chronic pain or sleep disorders. (Quite a few galleries are partnered with the Sunflower program, so it’s worth asking at the info desk if this is of interest.)
Hobart
MONA museum is upfront about the physical and sensory hurdles it might present, you can read more here on their accessibility page. However they do offer ‘supportive time slots’ which they describe as ‘It’s Mona, plus extra staff on the floor in case you need a bit more support. They’re the ones with the bright pink lanyards, and have undergone accessibility training. Supportive time slots are held when the museum is usually less busy: Saturdays at 10am, and Fridays, Sundays and Mondays at 3pm. Follow the prompts to book museum entry and we’ll see you there.’
Adelaide
The Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) offers sensory tours and also program special tours of current shows. For example there are quiet sessions to enjoy Tarnanthi as well as an Auslan tour of the show.
Perth
At the Perth Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA) you are able to visit during the Quiet Hour. Bookings are not required and the gallery says ‘During this session, the conditions of PICA’s building and programming will be adapted to create a quieter, low-stimulus environment, including reduced sound and lighting and other sources of sensory overload.’
The Art Gallery of Western Australia supply noise cancelling headphones and have a sensory map available online.
Darwin
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory offers ‘low sensory sessions’. These are held at 9.00am on the first Friday of every month. The gallery says ‘visitors will have the opportunity to experience exhibitions at their own pace and with reduced sensory stimuli, such as sound and lighting. Standard settings will be reinstated at 10.00am.’