Sensory Lab Travels the Country
This term, Glass Ceiling Arts Collective’s Sensory Lab toured the country, offering 11 immersive workshops across Aotearoa. From the Cloisters Studio in Christchurch CBD to Mahurangi College in Warkworth, and then two full days at Hundertwasser Arts Centre and a special evening lab at ONEONESIX in Whangārei.
Some of the standout moments included creating cosmic underwater scapes in Christchurch, where participants used fragrant bath bombs, orbies, and torches in the dark to craft a sensory-rich environment. In Whangārei, the Hundertwasser courtyard became an aquarium of wonder, complete with bubbles and glowing jellyfish, while the evening lab at ONEONESIX brought experimental play with video projections, moon footage, and flowing white fabric, inviting rich movement and creative exploration.
At Mahurangi College, students embraced our new portable textured translucent screen lollipops, using light, shape, and texture to build beautiful visual compositions. Across all locations, music-making was a consistent highlight, with participants jamming together on the tongue drum, or using apps like ThumbJam and SoundScaper to create ambient beats and layered soundscapes.
The Sensory Lab welcomed a diverse group of participants—from school students to adults with PMLD in aged care—making these experiences not only inclusive but deeply enriching. We are so proud of the creativity, joy, and connection that emerged in each session.
A selection of feedback from The Sensory Labs
"This was an amazing experience for our daughter. She had been really looking forward to it since we booked and it did not disappoint. It was great to see other young people with various disabilities running each station, they all did a great job!"
"Jezz loved being sung to at the start. I know that was pretty special for her. She became quite emotional. She kept trying to sing the song days later! It was very inviting, we loved the colours, the warmth and kindness of everyone. All the interactive stations were great. Loved the screen playing in the background, I personally found that very calming."
Our daughter "loved making music. Getting the chance to use musical instruments she wouldn't have access to or never seen before. Messy or mucky play is out of her comfort zone, but she gave it a go anyway, which I think was great for her. She also loved the sensory hot and cold. Being sprayed with delightful smells! I think her favourite thing was the bubbles outside ... we got the most beautiful photos of her popping bubbles with others amongst the gorgeous jellyfish 🪼"
"The students loved the musical instruments, under the sea activity with bubbles etc and the touch activities like the orbi beads."
“She had ideas to take back for the sensory space at school."