Sensory-Friendly Morning

About the Event

Sensory-Friendly Morning is a free program for all people who benefit from visiting the MCA without large crowds and other sensitive environmental elements. This includes visitors with sensory sensitivities, disabilities, autism, PTSD, dementia, and more. On these mornings, lighting at the museum is dimmed, sounds from artworks and environmental noise is kept at a minimum, and a quiet space is available to visitors for breaks. During Sensory-Friendly Mornings, preregistered individuals and their families can visit the museum to explore exhibitions at their own pace, and join a Chicago-based artist for a sensory-friendly art-making experience. The museum is closed to the general public until 11:30 am; at that time, the lights and artworks return to usual operations.

Sensory-Friendly Morning aims to be a welcoming space to experience contemporary art in a judgment-free environment.

Sensory-Friendly Art-Making Activity

Join Chicago Teaching Artist Mama Jeane from 10 to 11:30 am in the MCA Commons for an art-making activity inspired by Nick Cave: Forothermore.

Nick Cave’s magnificently colorful works ask us to move beyond the picture and into action. For this month’s Sensory-Friendly Morning, model your own hands—encouraging one another to do the work to uplift our society and make it more equitable for all. Participants can also craft memorial wind chimes from pony beads to honor the lives lost at the hands of police brutality.