soft spot & A4 Sounds present a cosy afternoon of fun for the solstice. Expect movies, a snack potluck, chatting, re-gift exchange, cosy crafts & games!
soft spot events are built with inclusivity in mind: If you want to celebrate the season but can’t afford the risk presented by almost every other event this time of year, then this is for you! Masking indoors, air purifiers, and accessible portaloos are among the ways we’ve been able to make this gathering more accessible.
Come lay on the floor, or lounge on the couch and find your soft spot with us.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
DOORS
1 PM
A member of our team will greet you at the door. Door will be open until 2 PM to allow some time before the movie starts. Please arrive before this time, or if you can only come later, let us know.
SOLSTICE SNACK SPREAD
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
To kick off the afternoon we’re inviting guests to contribute to our snack potluck. Think finger food that can be shared among friends.
FESTIVE FILMS
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Come find a cosy spot to rest in our gallery space and watch a festive film with us.
RE-GIFT EXCHANGE
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
We all have items we don’t appreciate as much as we could; lets re-gift it! Bring/make something that you’d like to gift to someone and get a gift in return.
COSY CRAFTS & BOARD GAMES
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Cosy up in front of our 4k fireplace and take part in some cosy crafts and board games. Please feel free to bring your own crafts, or a board game to play with the group.
Doors: 1pm
Snacks and Chats: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Movie: 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Gift Exchange: 4:30pm – 5:00pm
Cosy Crafts and Board Games: 5pm – 6pm
This event is masked indoors.
Our accessibility information is below.Â
THE TEAM
A new group of covid-conscious ghouls and their pals who want to create ways to socialise more safely. Their goal is to make a softer spot to land by taking into consideration the needs of those left to the wayside. Blankets, cushions, sofas, and matts are always at hand. So lie down, get comfy, and have some fun
Instagram: @softspot.ie
The Common Thread Strand is a series of experiments and happenings that serve as an ongoing public discussion, drawing out shared themes and engaging audiences in an ongoing conversation about the goals and strategies of social change: what kind of society do we want and how should we get there?
www.weonlywantthe.earth
Read More: a4sounds.org/wowte
ACCESSIBILITY
What you can do [IMPORTANT]
- Please avoid any high risk activities (indoor dining, unmasked events, travelling etc.) and mask in public places (public transport, shops, crowded outdoor spaces etc) the week leading up to the event.
- Please take 2 antigen tests 48 hrs apart before coming to the event.
- If you can’t afford tests right now, please let us know and we will get some to you.
- If you/anyone you’re in contact with test positive for Covid-19, or feel newly unwell in any way please stay at home.
- If travelling by public transport or taxi please wear a mask for your journey.
If you book to attend a soft spot event we are assuming that you will follow precautions. Thank you!
What we will do
- This event takes place indoors & outdoors and is masked.Â
- FFP2 masks will be available at the door.
- Air purifiers with HEPA filters will be running throughout the event.
- A CO2 monitor will be in the gallery.
- Doors will be opened during breaks and between activities to ventilate the room.
- All A4 staff are fully vaccinated.
- All staff, event team and facilitators will take precuations during the week before the event and an antigen test on the day.
Walking
- O’Connell Street: 14 mins from The Spire (directions)
- Phibsborough: 11 mins (directions)
Luas
- Parnell Stop (Green Line):
10 mins (directions) - Dominick Stop (Green Line):
12 mins (directions) - Broadstone Stop (Green Line):
12 mins (directions) - Abbey Street (Red Line):
17 mins (directions)
Accessible Parking Spaces
There are 30 accessible parking spaces nearby our studios between 2 and 8 mins away.
Map: https://rb.gy/sd41wu
Parking 2-3 mins away:
- Nelson Street: 1 space, 210m
- Hardwick Place: 1 space, 220m
- Eccles Place: 2 spaces, 220m
- Eccles Street: 3 spaces, 230m
- Hardwicke Place: 1 space, 220m
Arriving at A4 Sounds
- When you arrive at the gallery there is a kerb outside as part of the pavement which you may need to navigate depending on the direction you arrive.
- There is a small slope at the entrance at the desk where the material of the floor changes from cement to a tiled surface.
- The door will be open and there will be a staff member to greet you at the front desk.
- The front desk will be immediately in front of you approx 1m from the front door.
The Gallery
- Our gallery is located on the ground floor and is accessible.
- It is located about 5m from the front door.
- There is a small ramp into the gallery space.
- The floor is is a suspended wooden floor
- The room is painted a dark colour and will be low lit.
- Our garden can be accessed via the gallery.
Bathrooms
- Our bathrooms are gender-neutral.
- There is one accessible toilet in our outdoor garden area. It is a portaloo.
- There are three indoor bathrooms which are not accessible.
- The indoor bathrooms are located on the first floor via a flight of stairs (approx 22 steps) so may provide difficulties for folk with movement impairments.
The Garden
- The door to the outdoor area is straight across from the gallery door, and a distance of approx 5m.
- The outdoor area has heating which can be turned on and off to suit your needs.
- The outdoor area has a garden with a covered seating area with wooden benches, wooden and plastic stools.
- There are additional wooden benches which are not covered.
- To the back of the garden there is a mezzanine accessed by approx 15 steps with wooden benches
Additional information may be added or updated here when the event installation is completed in our gallery.
Overview
- This event will take place in our gallery & outdoors and is masked
- The event will be seated.
Activities
- Each activity will be seated around tables
- You can move freely between different activities throughout the day
- The activities are informal and relaxed
- There will be facilitators with each activity to guide you and suggest ideas if you needed
- Materials will be providedÂ
- Help will be provided if needed with any tool or material
Indoor Seating
- There will be a mixture of plastic canteen chairs, armchairs, and sofas
- Around the activities there will be plastic canteen chairs
- There will be cushions and chair pads.
Relaxed Areas
- In the room there will be some areas to lie or sit and relax if neededÂ
LightingÂ
- There will be RBG lighting.
- The activity areas will be spot lit
- Other areas of the gallery will be low lit
Video and Sound
- The movie will be played on a large projection screen
- The movie sound will be played on a PA System loud enough to fill the room, but not unnecessarily loud
- There will be some background music played at a low level during the crafts
- The music will not have harsh or loud sounds.
- The music will be played on a PA System
Snacks & Refreshments
- Refreshments will be a snack spread, potluck style. Guests are encouraged to contribute if they’d like.
You can book your visit via the link above or by clicking here!
Page 1 of booking:
- First, select your preferred date and time to visit from the drop down menus. You can find them on the right handside of the page underneath the description of the event
- Next, if you have accessibility needs, click the box inside the pink area underneath accessibility needs section. Skip this section if it is not applicable
- Next, if you would like to make a donation, please enter the donation amount inside the box in the section marked pink
- Next, click the add to cart button which is located below the total amount
- The screen will refresh. Now you will see a ‘view cart‘ button on the top right of the screen. You can also click the shopping cart icon on the top banner area
Page 2 of booking:
- There is no shipping required for this booking, so please click the ‘continue to check out’ button
Page 3 of booking:
- Next, fill out your billing information in the pink box.
- Next, the subscribe to our newsletter button is automatically checked. If you do not wish to do this uncheck this box. It is just below the pink box
Important:
- Next, if is the if shipping details are different to billing details. Please click the heading of this section so it closes and no longer requires details to be inputted. This is important to be able to check out without errors.
- Next, scroll down and check the I have read the terms and conditions box
- Next, check the I am not a robot box
-  Finally, click the place order button.
Confirmation:
- You will now come to a confirmation page. You do not need to do anything further. We will have your name ready at the door to check in.