Common Senses Events
Omaha Symphony Concert for Children with Autism (and their Families)
Join Maestra Deanna Tham and the Omaha Symphony on this interactive concert featuring music from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite and much more. We’ll take turns exploring big, small, up, down, high, and low with our bodies and music, before choosing calm as the concert draws to a close. This program, developed specially to be inclusive of sensory needs, takes place in a relaxed environment with a variety of seating options and dance space.
Join us before the concert to explore the space and participate in preconcert activities.
Plant, Nourish & Shine - The Musical
The Gotta Be Me Heartlight Choir, lead by Blake, Britta and Courtney CC on choreography, have written and created a show with the help of our amazing Opera Omaha Holland Community Opera Fellows coaching our performers, and more special guest stars. We can not wait for you to be a part of this show adventure.
Opera, Ballet + Beyond: A Performing Arts Workshop
Join Opera Omaha and American Midwest Ballet for a 90 minute workshop to explore two performing art styles.
The Giver (Sensory-Friendly)
Enjoy a sensory-friendly performance of The Giver at the Omaha Community Playhouse.
Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a utopian society with no war, no pain and no memories. All of life’s choices, from your occupation to your family members, are conveniently dictated by the government to keep things perfectly equal and functional. But when Jonas is chosen by The Giver to bear the memories of his society, past and present, he learns the truth behind his perfect world. Will Jonas fall in line or risk everything to forge a new path?
Timbre Talks: Lifting the Unique Voices of the Autism Community
Timbre Talks is a series of community discussions and feedback sessions that addresses problems identified by the autism community - either individuals or caregivers.
The Giver (Sensory-Friendly Performance)
Enjoy a sensory-friendly performance of The Giver at the Omaha Community Playhouse.
Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a utopian society with no war, no pain and no memories. All of life’s choices, from your occupation to your family members, are conveniently dictated by the government to keep things perfectly equal and functional. But when Jonas is chosen by The Giver to bear the memories of his society, past and present, he learns the truth behind his perfect world. Will Jonas fall in line or risk everything to forge a new path?
Omaha Symphony Small Ensemble Concert for Adults with Autism
Join us for a relaxed concert where Symphony musicians share some of their favorite works composed for string quartet. This 45 minute concert includes introductions of the instruments and information on the composers represented. Enjoy the concert with plenty of time for music and conversation afterwards!
Science Café Lecture (A Virtual Event): Dr. Matthew Goodwin & James Coleman Discuss The Living Room
Dr. Matthew Goodwin and James Coleman presented on April 13 at UNMC’s Science Café. Both presenters are part of Common Senses Festival, with interactive installations, Cardio Chairs and The Living Room, on display at KANEKO from April 3-30 - free and open to the public during gallery hours.
At the Science Café, hosted by UNMC as a virtual event, Coleman and Dr. Goodwin discussed The Living Room, a controllable environment they have developed that allows occupants to curate a calming space for themselves out of lights, sounds and images.
This special virtual Science Café is held conjunction with the Nebraska Science Festival which runs through April 2022.
Don't Just Dim the Lights: How to Create Inclusive Environments in the Arts for All to Enjoy (A Symposium)
What makes a performance or gallery a truly inclusive environment for individuals with cognitive disabilities and/or sensory sensitivities?
Weitz Family Foundation and Common Senses Festival invite you to a half day symposium on what makes a performance or gallery a truly inclusive environment for individuals with cognitive disabilities and/or sensory sensitivities.
A Worm’s Eye View
A Worm’s Eye View celebrates this perspective revealing the miraculous in the mundane.
In this 360° video installation, filmmaker Adam Larsen brings the spectacular details of the great outdoors inside.
Social Sensory Architecture
Social Sensory Architecture is an on-going research project designing technology-embedded multi-sensory environments.
These playscapes, through the use of advanced textile design, sensing technology, and bespoke software, elaborate textile landscapes are transformed into physically, visually, and sonically interactive environments.
Cardio Chairs
Cardio Chairs intends to enable and facilitate visualization and exploration of interpersonal dynamics by making the invisible visible.
The Living Room
This proof-of-concept project seeks to determine if affective and physiological regulation in individuals with autism can be promoted through dynamic adjustments in the ambient environment. In short, light, sound, smell, and other sensorial stimuli within a space are designed to adjust to accommodate end-user comfort and enjoyment.
World Autism Day
We invite the autism community for an exclusive SNEAK PEEK of the Common Senses Festival installations housed at KANEKO on April 2nd from 1-4 PM!
Celebrate World Autism Day with AAP, Munroe-Meyer Institute, and WhyArts from 1-4 PM! Enjoy interactive installations, connect with the experts behind the installations, and participate in dance/movement and visual arts activities.
This event is free and open to all members of the autism community and their families.
Orchid
Social Sensory Architecture is an on-going research project designing technology-embedded multi-sensory environments.
These playscapes, through the use of advanced textile design, sensing technology, and bespoke software, elaborate textile landscapes are transformed into physically, visually, and sonically interactive environments.
Up and Away
Join the Fogg Family on a multisensory journey through the sky in your very own hot air balloon. Featuring puppetry, live music, and interactive play, this flight is limited to a small group of young balloonists and their adult sidekicks. Guided one-on-one by members of the Fogg Family, children and their families will experience the wonder of the world above the clouds.