Social story | talks

ACMI is a museum - a museum all about movies, TV shows, and videogames.

ACMI is in Melbourne, in Federation Square. ACMI has two entrances, with big ACMI signs at both.

This is the Flinders Street entrance.

This is the Federation Square entrance

If I come to ACMI by bus, I'll be dropped off around the corner from ACMI with my classmates and teachers.

If I am coming by train I will get off at Flinders Street Station with my classmates and teachers. It is across the road from Federation Square and ACMI.

If I'm coming by tram with my classmates and teachers, there are a number of tram stops really close to ACMI as well.

My teachers will know the plan and which entrance to go to to start our day at ACMI.

A staff member from ACMI will meet us outside, and then bring me and my classmates into the building.

I am visiting ACMI to hear a talk and watch a presentation.

After my talk, I will be visiting an exhibition called The Story of the Moving Image at ACMI.

If I require wheelchair access, the best entrance is the Flinders Street entrance as it has a ramp. The Flinders Street entrance will bring me into the Ground level of ACMI.

Inside ACMI, there are two lifts to get from Ground Level to Level 1, as well as a lift that goes to Ground Level, to Level 1 and Level 2.

The Cinemas are on Level 2. The exhibition is on Ground Level.

ACMI's exhibition, galleries and workshop spaces are wheelchair friendly. As are the cinemas, with reserved areas at the front and back of both cinemas.

There are also large stairs connecting Ground Level and Level 1.

There are also stairs connecting Level 1 with Level 2.

There are toilets on the Ground Level and Level 1, including accessible toilets.

There will be times when me and my classmates may need to stop and wait as we move around ACMI.

Often there will be places to sit whilst I wait, but visitors can't sit on the floor, and I should not block hallways and pathways.

An ACMI Teacher will meet me, my classmates and teachers outside the Flinders Street entrance, which is on Level 1.

The cinemas are up the stairs on Level 2, but the ACMI teachers and my teachers will show us where the toilets are on this level if I need to use them first.

There is also a lift nearby that can take us up to Level 2.

At the top of the stairs and elevator exit, there will be an ACMI staff member to show us into the cinema. Their job is called 'Usher'.

They will recommend the best place to sit so we get the best experience.

Once we are all seated and comfortable, an ACMI Teacher will introduce themselves and any other ACMI staff that will be helping.

The ACMI Teacher will use a microphone so me and my classmates can all hear them.

Their talk will include a presentation I can see on the big cinema screen. The presentation will have some fun and interesting short videos to watch.

The lights during the talk will be a little bit dim but I will be able to see everything and everyone.

The ACMI Teacher might ask us some questions during the talk, and I will put my hand up if I would like to answer.

I will seek out a teacher first if I need to exit the cinema for any reason.

After the talk, we'll be visiting an exhibition.

We might have time for a snack break after the talk and before we visit the exhibition.

If the weather is nice, me and my classmates can go down one level to Level 1, and head outside into Federation Square to eat.

I will be mindful of seagulls - they won't hurt me, but they will be very interested in my food. I won't feed them.

If the weather is not nice and there's time for a snack, the ACMI Teacher will talk to my teacher about a good place to snack instead.

Before I visit the exhibition The Story of the Moving Image, me and my classmates will put our bags and things away in lockers.

Our teacher will get a key to these lockers.

If I have a comfort item, I can bring that in with me.

Once everyone's bags are away in lockers, me and my class will come across the foyer, and past the stairs.

Then, we will stop here, and an ACMI staff member will tell us more about the exhibition which is called The Story of the Moving Image.

The ACMI staff member will talk to us about how to be safe in the exhibition, and remind me to enjoy myself!

ACMI staff will also give me a special object called The Lens. I can use this inside the museum, and take it home or back to school with me.

It's mine to keep!

Here is an ACMI staff member holding a Lens.

We will go into the exhibition in smaller groups with my teachers and any other adults that might be helping.

Someone from ACMI will show me how to use my Lens as I go inside through the entrance.

Some sections of the museum have lower light levels to help me see the things that are lit up.

Other areas are brightly lit so I can see everything clearly.

Some displays have headphones I can use to listen to audio content, while others have their sound playing in the space.

I can't climb or step on any platforms inside the exhibition.

I will see a 'No Touching' sign on artworks and precious objects as well.

Once inside, in the first part, there are lots of things to play with, and lots of things to watch as well.

I can try an interactive experience that lets me animate shadows.

I can play with optical illusion toys.

There is something called the Zoetrope.

It is fun to look at, but it also has fast strobing/flashing lights.

There is a warning sign outside the room.

One of people's favourite things is to make a digital flipbook, which I can save on my Lens.

In the next part, I will see lots of old movie cameras and miniature living rooms that have been built inside old televisions.

There is a Games Lab which has lots of old and new video games, there’s even arcade machine games to play! These can be noisy.

The Games Lab is in the middle of the gallery and is very popular. If it is busy, I may have to wait to play a game.

Near the end, there’s a room with comfy seats and touch screens.

This is the Constellation area where I can use my Lens to explore what I have collected in the exhibition.

There’s one last space I can visit before we exit, but it often changes - so I can see what's in there when I visit.

When we exit, we will come out near the big stairs where the ACMI staff member spoke to us about the museum when we started.

When everyone is ready, I can collect my bag with my teachers, and then it's back to school or onto the next part of my visit to ACMI, or the city.

I can say thank you and good bye to ACMI staff as I leave if I like.