What is the idea?

Last year, we attended a workshop on how to curate an exhibition.

We were tasked to design our own imaginary exhibition based on a type of person. No limits or restrictions; physical, financial or otherwise.

We decided to think about what would make a perfect exhibition for autistic people.

Text on white paper reads: Permissive, Authentic, Immersion, A Place To "Be",
Pillow Palace
Text on white paper reads: What's the opposite of deprivation but not overwhelm? Cocooned? Supported? Surrounded?
Text on grey paper reads: "A luxury escape for neurodiverse people" If you need anything, ask Teddy. Invisible Staff, "Hey Barbie", "Automatons", Toys, Character, Animatronics

brainstorming notes from the curation workshop

Hardly any public spaces are designed with autistic people in mind. They tend to be too loud, too bright and sometimes too crowded. It’s usually impossible to ask for accommodations like turning off music and more.

Public spaces aren’t often suited to people who need to bring lots of things with them to feel okay. People who need to move, ‘stim’ or make sounds to feel good are seen as disruptive, disrespectful or even dangerous.

There’s often restrictions on what you can eat and drink, limited to only stuff you can buy there. Public toilets are often inaccessible; and asking for access to the disabled toilet when your disability is hidden can be confrontational.

If you look a bit different, you get stared at.

Text on grey paper reads: Safe, Underground Space, Small, Warm, Soft, Special Interest "Bathing"
Text on grey paper reads: Serene, Many Parts, Wide, Cool, Open Surface
Text on grey paper reads: Autistic People, Patrolling The Perimeter, Not Scale, Not Exposing, Palatial + Celebratory, Multimedia, Practice + Rest

brainstorming notes from the curation workshop

So what does a perfect public space look like? It’s different for each one of us. There’s commonality but the perfect space is individualised, designed only “for me”.

And that’s Pillow Palace.

A place where a visitor is also exhibit and exhibitor, in their own exhibition for one. Filled with the things they want to see, hear, feel and play with – hands on and interactive – sensory, stimmy, special interests and more…

It’s something we decided we wanted to make happen, as best we could, to start conversations about inclusive autistic-friendly spaces and what makes us ‘us’.

So we collaborated with 12 young autistic artists to bring Pillow Palace to life…

If you have any questions, want to collaborate or just say hi, email Jill here