Level 3 is an accessible media festival run for and by the neurodivergent community

Neurodivergent Media festival comes to town

An exhibition of video game art created by autistic, learning disabled and neurodivergent (A/LD/ND) artists hosted at the Observer Building this weekend – 5 and 6 November. Caf Fean finds out more…

Level 3 is an organisation comprised of people who are A/LD/ND, based in Brighton with co-Director video game maker, illustrator and musician Willow Ritchie, resident in Hastings. Simon Wilkinson, transmedia artist, is the other half of the director team and has been described as “one of the most notable names in Europe to be dealing with VR.” They are hosting a weekend-long festival touring Hastings, Brighton and Folkestone, first stop: Hastings this weekend, where they will showcase a range of projects.

“We identified a commonality between neurodiversity and game play and are keen to share that with a wide audience – gaming is a really good resource for community engagement for a lot of people” explains Willow.

The Chichester Festival theatre Wednesday & Friday community company playing their game for the first time © Level-3 Productions Ltd

The committee in charge of Level 3 is made up of five people who identify as autistic, learning disabled or neurodiverse. Willow describes herself as a facilitator. They meet once a week to discuss what the festival should contain. Last year, the festival was solely online: this is the first year that they have programmed an IRL (in real life) and online hybrid event. The committee were predominantly diagnosed at a young age, and identify with the terms Autistic, Learning Disabled and Neurodivergent.

A call to participate from Simon Wilkinson: “I think the reason people should come is because this festival is as much about making video games and expressing ourselves through them as it is about playing them. We love making video games and we love finding others who either already make them or who want to join the community and start making them.”

The approach to the festival is refreshingly open and friendly: if you’ve never played a video game before, come and see … if you’ve wondered what it’s all about, come and learn… if you’re a tech whizz come and work some magic with Level 3.

There will be an exhibition of games created by neurodivergent artists, two panel talks with the artists and free, casual walk-in workshops where people can try out 3D modelling technology and 3D scanning.

All creations from the workshops will be placed in a community-built game which will be available to play throughout the two days. Following the festival, the game will be available to download.

Visit the Observer Building via the main entrance on Cambridge Road (the one with the scaffolding), to see what’s going on.

The café space (to the left as you come in), will host a small retro gaming area where you are invited to play old classic video games. Tea, coffee and cake will be available to purchase.

Panel discussions take place both days, at 6pm. Saturday sees a conversation with the Level 3 Committee, who will discuss the whys and wherefores of the festival. Sunday, graphic illustration artist Terry Watson will be talking about how they developed their own game.

Anyone of any age can attend and it is free of charge.

Opening times: Saturday 5 November 5pm – 9pm and Sunday 6 November 11am – 8pm
The Observer Building, 53 Cambridge Road, Hastings TN34 1DT
You can find more information on the Level 3 website.
Download a PDF with more information about the Level 3 event here.

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