The Children's Sensorium

Background: Emergent literature focusing on children and post-pandemic recovery suggest that children were more adversely affected by the pandemic compared to many other populations, particularly in terms of emotional wellbeing and resilience (Fitzgerald et al., 2021; Hsieh et al., 2021). Meanwhile, there is a growing body of evidence that artistic engagement can support improved emotional wellbeing in children (Camilleri, 2007; Atkinson & Rubidge, 2013; Stucky & Nobel, 2010), as recognised in the World Health Organisation’s Report on The Role of Arts in improving Health and Wellbeing (Fancourt & Finn, 2019). Art viewing has been linked with stimulating creativity, imagination and reflexivity, while artmaking has been shown to increase children’s self-esteem, sense of achievement and creativity and social skills (Roberts et al., 2011; Zarobe & Bungay, 2017). Contribution: The Children’s Sensorium was an interactive, experiential exhibition that provided practical strategies for children and their families to increase mental health literacy and emotional resilience. It was produced by Grace McQuilten with leading artistic direction from Boonwurrung elder N’arweet Carolyn Briggs and was presented at RMIT Design Hub Gallery as part of the Big Anxiety Festival . Strategies around emotional resilience and wellbeing were developed with the guidance of critical mental health researcher Renata Kokanović and industry collaborator, Live Particle. Significance: The exhibition received $50,000 from VicHealth and was profiled widely in the media, including coverage in The Age & The Herald Sun, ArtsHub, Channel 10 news and ABC Radio National’s Life Matters. It featured new artworks by Tamara Borovica, Angela Clarke, Heather Hesterman, Fiona Hillary, Larissa Hjorth, Camilla Maling, Hiromi Tango, Philip Samartzis and Anna Schwann, and featured design by Anthony Clarke (Bloxas). A large public program engaged 300+ people in workshops, with more than 2000+ visitors to the exhibition.