Relaxed Functions and Concerts

Relaxed performances, or relaxed performances, arrive for the first time in Chile in 2018 with the help of GAM to expand and facilitate the experience in the performing arts of neurodivergent people, subtly modifying technical aspects in plays, music, dance and circus to generate inclusive and safe spaces for everyone.

In a relaxed performance, the intensity of the lighting is regulated, the sound is attenuated, the doors are open at all times, rest spaces are created outside the room, visual stories are created that are sent to the public prior to the performance with the aim of anticipating the experience including access, details of the rooms, details of the performance, and artists are trained in models of customer service from the perspective of people with disabilities.

These are some of the components of this production and participation model created to value cultural rights for all people.

What are relaxed functions and concerts?

Get to know them in these six audiovisual capsules. A GAM project presented by SURA, with the collaboration of Pupa Studio Creativo.

Some of the changes required to implement a concert or relaxed function will be adaptations to the physical space or its objects, while others will be attitude or values.

What changes do we implement?

Visual history: The target audiences for concerts and relaxed functions must know the activity they will attend through a downloadable visual history detailing as much information as possible about the work or concert they will attend: costumes, duration, song list, atmospheric characteristics, etc.

Room preparation: To promote the comfort of the public, the functions are carried out with a maximum 70% occupancy of the room, entry to the room is possible at least 20 minutes before the start of the function, cushions or mats are provided to have another surface as a possibility to sit and pictograms are installed to indicate and facilitate access to the GAM spaces.

Rest area: We provide a comfortable and discreet space with carpet, mats and armchairs that are used to rest if the public requires it while the function/concert is happening.

Technical aspects: They depend on each show and are only a starting point:

We regulate the intensity of the lights throughout the concert.
We keep dim lighting for the public.
We avoid total darkness
We do not use strobe lights.
We reduce or graduate sound instances that involve sudden changes in volume.
We avoid sound saturation or repetitive sound.

Right and access

GAM brings these types of experiences, which are a global trend, to take a step further in inclusion issues. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities mandates that: “States recognize the right of persons with disabilities to participate, on an equal basis with others, in cultural life by ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to cultural material in accessible formats.”

In this way we are committed to being able to start this trend in Chile. It is essential that we can provide access to culture for all types of audiences, including more permanent initiatives as an offer.