Neurokin, Australia's pioneer neurodiversity arts festival, celebrates and showcases the diverse creativity and talents
of Neurodivergent people whilst fostering
Neurodivergent community and leadership.

All performers and presenters are Neurodivergent,
but we welcome neurotypicals amongst our audiences.

Reasons why you might like to come along:
- to enjoy the awesome creativity of Neurodivergent folk
- to learn new skills in accessible workshops
- to develop new perspectives and ways of seeing the world
- to be amongst Neurokin and develop new friendships
- to share your own stories and ways of experiencing the world

Neurokin Arts Festival

Feedback from our first festival:
"the festival was such a helpful, joyful and inspiring event. I am beyond grateful and excited to have had the opportunity to attend. This was so good for our learning, community connection, sense of self worth and general wellbeing."

"You were fabulous. We felt so welcome, even being so far from home and not knowing anyone."

"You've put together something totally incredible. I'm truly amazed at what you pulled off and really touched, joyed and heartened by the festival. I hope it's the start of future fabulousness in our community."

"As a parent of an Autistic child, a lot of what we are taught and support we are given is from therapists who whilst amazing and very knowledgable, just don't have the understanding that comes from lived experience. I usually see my daughter 'switch' into her social masking the moment she leaves our home until the moment we return. Being in an Autistic-led environment, I saw that mask slip away. And, for one of the first times I saw her truely authentic self dancing away at the glow disco, not worried if she were doing it 'right'. Because everyone else was doing it their own amazing way too!"

EVENTS

So, you want to know the ARCANE?

ARCANE Inc. is a group of Neurodivergent professionals. We founded ARCANE in 2023 to support the running of Australia's first neurodiversity arts festival, Sensory Sanctuary. Sensory Sanctuary ran over 2 weeks in the July school holidays bringing Neurodivergent community together and featuring a number of great workshops. We took a break in 2024, to gather our energy to bring you another amazing line up in 2025!

Aside from Neurokin Arts Festival, we also offer:

Accessible events online and throughout Victoria
Mobile sensory spaces throughout Victoria
Silent Disco events and dry hire throughout Victoria
Lived Experience & Thoroughly Researched Access Consultancy Online and throughout Victoria
Professional Development and Parent Education Online and throughout Victoria
Creative Microbusiness Incubator Programs for Neurodivergent and Disabled artists
Neurodivergent and Disabled creative producers and artists for your next project

We are:

Louise 'Rockabilby' Cooper - President, Creative Producer & Autism Consultant
Kris Halls - Vice President & Budding Psychologist
Rachel Findeis - Secretary, Wayapa Practitioner & Dance Therapist
Melissa Gijsbers - Treasurer, Children's Author & Writing Group Facilitator
Angus Cooper Devenport - Youth Board Member, Avid Gamer & Student of Electrical Engineering

ARCANE board members from left to right Kris Halls (vice president), Louise Cooper (president), Rachel Findeis (secretary).

Left-Right: Kris Halls (Vice President), Louise Cooper (President), Rachel Findeis (Secretary) after speaking at Victorian Aboriginal Community Services 'Deadly & Different' Conference

Our aims are to:

- Create and promote Autistic arts and culture in Australia, particularly in regional areas.

- Bring the Autistic and neurodivergent communities together and improve quality of life.

- Increase Autistic and neurodiversity education throughout Australia, particularly in regional areas.

- Increase access to the arts, community events and festivals

- Spark new Autistic-led community events and festivals

- Increase Autistic and neurodivergent employment, particularly in regional Australia.

Let's Work Together