Youth Music

What if the arts were truly accessible to everyone? What if creativity had no barriers?

Youth Music’s funded partner Soundplay is redefining accessibility in the arts, using cutting-edge technology to unlock new ways of engaging with music, visuals, movement, and tactile materials. Their immersive, multisensory experiences aren’t just about entertainment: they’re about inclusion, empowerment, and creative freedom.

Their core mission is to support young people who identify as having additional support needs, Disabled, and those who identify as neurodivergent - groups that often face the greatest barriers to artistic participation.

By blending intuitive, person-centred design with groundbreaking technology, Soundplay opens up access for people to explore, create, and connect through the arts on their own terms.

Image of young person lit by a circle of green and yellow lights interacting with multisensory equiptment.

The power of a multisensory approach

Soundplay’s multisensory approach is what sets them apart as a groundbreaking immersive project. Exploring is the goal here - there’s no rigid approach to engaging with the installations, allowing young people to interact with the music and space on their own terms.

“Because we often work with people who experience the world differently, we’ve found that a multi-sensory approach just opens-up more possibilities and starting points” Ewan explains.

There are myriad different ways that people see and experience the world, and Soundplay’s space allows for this. For some, sound can be overwhelming, but having control over lighting or being able to manipulate sound and image together can make the experience more comfortable.

These spaces empower the individual to engage however they like, by offering reactive animations controlled by movement or voice, tactile vibrations, and adaptive materials. Ewan explains that over time they have created a toolkit of approaches, different methods and techniques that can be tried in lots of different situations.

“Our approach to working with people is that you always have to try and take people as they come. Don’t assume that someone doesn’t understand you because they can’t talk to you”

Ewan Sinclair

Soundplay

Image of children playing on multisensory equipment.

Scaling Up: Expanding Across Scotland

With support from the Incubator Fund, Soundplay successfully expanded their reach across four cities in Scotland, providing consistent creative opportunities despite an uncertain funding landscape.

“The support we’ve had through the Incubator Fund was critical in helping us navigate a difficult transition for us as an organisation when we became a charity in 2023.” It provided them with a stable workforce at a time when many arts organisations in Scotland were struggling, they explain.

A key part of this expansion has been the hiring of assistant artists, allowing Soundplay to train and mentor emerging creatives.

"It’s been really rewarding to have been able to support these artists... They are also great at sharing their experiences with new trainees and volunteers creating a really welcoming inclusive workplace."

Image of a young boy interacting with a multisensory table

Understanding Local Needs

Expanding Soundplay’s work across multiple cities has reaffirmed to them that “there is a huge demand for this kind of work everywhere we go.”

It has also deepened their understanding of the diverse challenges young people with additional needs face in accessing creative opportunities. While the demand for inclusive, multisensory experiences is high everywhere, the specific barriers can vary depending on local infrastructure, funding landscapes, and available support networks.

Children sat inside Soundplay's multi-sensory dome, lit by orange lights, playing with instruments.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Soundplay

One of Soundplay’s most exciting new ventures is The Playspace- a dedicated multisensory play, music, and art facility in Glasgow. Originally envisioned as a home for their touring installations, it has grown into a thriving community hub offering workshops, training, and events for disabled and non-disabled participants alike.

Beyond Glasgow, they continue to build on strong partnerships in Aberdeen, Paisley, and Dundee, and are now looking to expand below the border.

We’re also hoping to travel and work more across the North of England, building on a brilliant project we carried out for the Level Centre in Derbyshire. Watch this space in 2025 as we may be coming to a city near you!

Ewan Sinclair

Soundplay

Check out Soundplay's new website!

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Soundplay - How a ground-breaking immersive project is redefining accessibility in the arts