These are some of my memories and reflections on the guest experiences in Hiromi Hotel: Heartbeat at Splendour in the Grass 2022.

On Thursday night I enjoyed a brilliant conversation with J and G as I showed them how to fingerknit, they are both from UTS and had been working to set up the Science Forum. We talked about the promulgation of fear, neuropsychology, neuroplasticity, how to offset the negativity bias of the brain and their expert knowledge of algae. J spoke about how he had found a slower way to live when he was stuck in Portugal in the early days of the pandemic.

On Friday I had a long chat with T and R, T has just graduated with honours and was excited to be taking up a job offer with the CSIRO. The topics we talked about roved from koala research, to other ways of living outside of societal norms, to relationships and love, and being consumed by consuming.

B and partner revisit Hiromi Hotel to continue their finger knitting. On the previous day they hid their balls of fibre deep in the installation. B spends time incorporating the leftover pieces of other people’s knitting into his then graduates to knitting a strand using 10 balls of wool. He is totally committed to making a significant contribution to the installation. After a few hours he has created a thick colourful rope that is nine metres long. He carefully considers where to install this. We talk about art and creativity, he tells me his mother is an artist who creates murals and teaches. B likes painting, he shares some images with me from his graduating project three years ago. Both paintings explore the themes of sin and evil, they provoke questions about how our society venerates and encourages some of these - especially greed, lust, gambling - distracting us away from thinking and purpose.

I observe a group of three enter Hiromi Hotel, by the time they reach me at the back they all have blissful smiles. I comment on the transformation and ask them how the space makes them feel or think, they respond with Calm, Wonderful, Amazing. I continue asking others who say that Hiromi Hotel is: a Refuge, Neurodivergently Delightful, Zen, Peaceful, Collaborative and a Safe Space. There were many conversations about judging people and its ruinous effects on psyches and relationships. I heard people reminding each other that Splendour is a judgement-free zone.

I have been absolutely thrilled to witness and encourage people to feel calm, centred, creative, self-regulated, accepted, loved and valued. It’s so evident that these spaces work and should be available. As always the challenge is how to fund them and pay the workers.

Hiromi Hotel was a spontaneous sharing of skills, knowledge, stories, humanity, joy, connection and satisfaction.

Hotel comes from the Latin Hosptium, also the base for hospitable which is be to welcoming to visitors or guests and can also mean a pleasant and favourable environment for living. At Splendour in the Grass 2022, Hiromi Hotel was both