Autonomous Instruments
With Kingspark School and Soundplay Projects
We were delighted to be selected to take part in the Alexandra Reinhardt Memorial Awards 2025-26.
The award supports art organisations to work with young people and their support networks to co-create works that encapsulate the unique perspectives of young people.
For this commission, we worked with Kingspark School and Soundplay Projects to explore inclusive approaches to engaging children with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) in experiencing and making art. The project aimed to place children’s choices at the centre in order to create a permanent, interactive, sensory artwork.
Published
The creation of something that is this inclusive is lovely. Even if some of the children don’t understand the autonomy or can’t use the switch. It’s an individual experience to activate the sound, but the sound can be shared by everyone in the room including staff.Carolyn Watson Teacher, Kingspark School
Soundplay Projects tested large button switches, prototype sound objects and instruments with the children and each child was supported to interact with the sounds and objects, allowing artists and staff to notice patterns of engagement and intentionality.
The resulting interactive pieces, titled Autonomous Instruments, were developed to be accessible by all the children involved in the project. These special sound bowls have been designed to encourage agency and to be played. One will go to Kingspark School and one will stay with us at DCA for other groups to experience.
Kingspark School groups come to DCA once a month for sensory art and play sessions, visiting the gallery and watching short films from Discovery Film Festival.
You can see one of the Autonomous Instruments along with other work created as part of the Alexandra Reinhardt Memorial Awards 2025-26, in Make now, think later! This display will be in DCA Create Space from Fri 15 May to Sun 21 June.
Soundplay Projects
