Would you pay to enter a room full of rain?
London-based Random International’s most famous art installation is the Rain Room and Melbourne is the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to experience it.
It’s already been to London, New York City, Shanghai and Dubai and over half a million people have visited the Rain Room since 2013. People have been known to wait 8 hours to enter!
So – back to the question. Is the Rain Room ‘worth’ the entrance fee?
To be honest, I think that depends on your interests and point of view. Personally, I wouldn’t pay $30 to watch a football game, I wouldn’t pay $30 for an alcoholic drink and I wouldn’t pay $30 for a pizza.
But I am willing to pay to experience art. Because I don’t think art should necessarily be free or that artists should work for free. Art is valuable and an entry fee acknowledges that value, even if that acknowledgement is in the form of a monetary transaction.
And the logistics and technology that allows Rain Room to exist in Melbourne are not simple.
First of all, the Jackalope Pavilion is a bespoke temporary structure designed by architecture firm March Studio. It’s been erected on the rooftop of The Prince Hotel carpark.
Rain Room itself is a 100 square metre field of continuous rainfall. As you walk slowly through the darkness you are surrounded by the loud roar of the rain falling and the unexpected feeling of staying dry while being fully surrounded by millions of water droplets just out of arm’s reach
Movement sensors respond to where your body is in the space to stop or activate the water jets. That’s why they recommend not wearing dark, shiny or reflective fabric and to move slowly if you don’t want to get wet.
The artists are seeking to explore how humans and their relationship to each other and to nature are increasingly mediated through technology.
I find the experience curious and meditative. When was the last time you spent 20 minutes listening and watching rain fall?
Children can attend but I think they should be of an age where they are able to be held in your arms or old enough to understand why they should not run and play ie I think kids 3-5 years may find it difficult to not move excitedly through Rain Room.
That said, due to an overwhelmingly positive response from families and young children who have attended the Rain Room, they are opening kid-friendly sessions for the school holidays from 21 December 2023 to 29 January 2024. Specifically designed for families with children 12 years and under, the kid’s sessions aim to introduce the wonderful world of the Rain Room art experience to children by exploring its concepts and ideas in an interactive, fun format that lets kids be kids and where it’s ok to get a little wet!
When you book just look for times marked ‘KID FRIENDLY’ in the session times. Children must be accompanied by their parent/guardian at all times and you’ll need to bring towels and a change of clothes for you and your family.
At the end of your 20-minute session you are guided out into the gift shop. If you want to hold onto that meditative feeling then just walk straight past.
Rain Room is in Melbourne until Wednesday 31 January 2024. Tickets are timed every 20 minutes and weekends generally book out first.
Click here for 100 Best Things to Do in Melbourne with Kids
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”thon-hot-tips-panel”]HOT Tips:
- No. 16 Tram runs from the Melbourne’s CBD to St Kilda, with several stops located along Fitzroy Street.
- Parking is available at The Prince of Wales carpark and can be booked online at the time of ticket purchase.
- There is limited free 1 hr street parking along Acland and Fitzroy Streets.
- You can store your belongings in provided lockers prior to your session commencing.
- It’s ok to bring in cameras and phones as you will not get wet (if you follow the instructions)!
- Visitors are discouraged from wearing dark, shiny or reflective fabric.
- Flat-soled shoes must always be worn. No high-heels!
- Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult and advised not to run or play. There are kid-friendly sessions available during Autumn school holidays;
- Wheelchairs, forward-facing strollers and mobility scooters can be taken into the exhibition provided they weigh less than 500kg and are less than 1.5m in length.
- Access is via a dedicated lift on the Jackson Street entrance.
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I hope this post has helped or inspired you! Subscribe to my weekly newsletter to find out more ways for your family to have fun together!
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