When the HoLD Art Collective brought Hold and Be Held to MakerWorld Gallery, we knew there would be a fantastic response. Our community is always keen to engage – but it also made me stop and think. What else is there for them, really, in our town centre?
Cultural spaces can feel intimidating. There are all these unspoken rules, as if we should whisper like we’re in a church. But children explore the world with their whole bodies and all their senses. So what happens when artworks are too precious to touch, or movement isn’t allowed? This extends to people of all ages who experience the world differently. Should they be left out simply because their way of engaging doesn’t fit the norm?
We already have sensory-friendly screenings and calm environments for neurodivergent people. But what if the art itself was designed to be touched, explored, and played with, by anyone, in any way? That’s what Hold and Be Held set out to do – to place play at the very heart of engagement.
Teachers from local special educational needs groups told us how unusual it was for them to take students to cultural spaces, or even playgrounds. Galleries are often too ‘precious’ and playgrounds can feel difficult for older students to feel they can use. At MakerWorld, they loved being able to slide, touch, hold, lie down and move freely through the space. One Year 10 student drew on the wall with her feet – and honestly, it was wonderful.
When I walked into the gallery, the atmosphere was pure joy. No one was saying no. The artists were part of it, encouraging exploration, watching what happened when young people engaged with their work in unexpected ways.
That moment made me think once again about who our town centre is for and what happens when we make space for curiosity, connection and joy. When we invite people to play, we invite them to belong.
So perhaps it’s time councils looked again at their strategies for town centres and cultural development. What if, instead of rules and restrictions, play was at the heart of it all?