CHILDREN from Bradford schools have been putting a new art piece through its paces ahead of its appearance centre stage at the National Science and Media Museum’s summer exhibition.

The Sensory Soundpit, by artist Di Mainstone, is an innovative musical instrument that creates sounds through touch and visual effects.

By using sand, people can create their own unique sounds and pieces of music in the three Soundpits.

To test out the artwork, children from Delius Special School and St Philip’s CE Primary Academy were invited to the museum to develop sounds and visuals which will be incorporated into the exhibit when it opens on Saturday, July 15.

Volunteers from Bradford’s Specialist Autism Service also visited the museum to try the equipment, and also to see if the equipment may have a therapeutic effect for people with autism.

The children first listened to sounds and were asked to draw what they thought the sound looked like, and some of these designs will be incorporated into the finished artwork.

The Sensory Soundpit is inspired in part by synesthesia, a condition that triggers a response in one sense or part of the body by stimulating a different sense or part of the body such as being able to hear colours.

Ms Mainstone said: “In the exhibition there will be three Soundpits with different personalities produced by colours, shapes and sounds.

“We’ve been working with groups form Bradford to develop new content for the Soundpits, which will appear in the final installation in the summer.

“It has been amazing to work with the children and it was incredible to see them so lively and excited by it.

“One of the things we’ve noticed is it really keeps people’s attention, people linger and stay around experimenting with the different pits.

“It was great to have the Specialist Autism Service with us, so many people have said we should work with the autistic community to see if there is a benefit, and by having them with us we have definitely seen it is, so it has been a success in that sense.”

Each of the different boxes has a different personality, with different sounds and different visuals, and are different sizes, including one which is accessible to wheelchairs and one at floor level.

Supersenses will be at the museum from July 15 to October 8, and will be open specially on Friday, July 14, as part of the Bradford Science Festival.