Bicycle Day 2020: A Virtual Immersive Experience hosted by Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
In the midst of a global pandemic, there may never have been such an important moment to illuminate the healing powers of psychedelics, and to do it in a way that provides a rare outlet for connection and fun.
For the past seven years, Bicycle Day Parade through Golden Gate Park and other celebrations have brought our community together to commemorate a watershed moment in psychedelic history.
This year, in vastly different circumstances, the MAPS community will gather together in virtual spaces, seeking to utilize the mediums available to us now to celebrate this occasion by connecting in new ways.
EXPERIENCE
MAPS’ virtual celebration of Bicycle Day will be hosted online on Sunday, April 19, 2020 from 5-10pm PT.
What will the overall experience be like?
Two sections:
Open section with livestreams (available to the general public)
Immersive section (limited to 3,000 ticket holders)
What will the immersive section be like?
Participants will attend through a web portal
Portal will link them to a map of 45 different live experiences
Experiences will happen over the course of five hours
What types of experiences will be on offer?
Most of these experiences will be interactive in some way
Traditional broadcast-style livestream format experiences will be in the open section
Immersive section will be primarily experiences designed to invite direct participation from attendees
How will immersive ticket holders participate?
The code of engagement for each room will be explained prior to entry
Each participant will be asked to keep their video on throughout the event, and to dress for the occasion. Directions will be provided instructing participants to use backgrounds or filters to decorate their appearance.
Example experiences:
8-Bit Bicycle Race
Participants will be represented by an avatar on a virtual bicycle track; as they approach other participants, the software initiates a Zoom conversation where you can meet the people you are ‘biking’ next to
Psychedelic Storytelling
Participants can ‘raise hand’ using Zoom to be called on to share stories of their psychedelic experiences
Art Therapy
An art therapist leads participants through an exercise where each participant ‘paints’ digitally using the Zoom whiteboard function
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Proposals for Immersive Experiences are due
Tuesday, April 14 at 12pm PT.
You can find a link to apply here: bit.ly/bicycledayapplication
ABOUT BICYCLE DAY
Bicycle Day 2020 commemorates the 77th anniversary of the first intentional ingestion of LSD by Albert Hofmann on April 19, 1943. It marks a watershed moment in the development of psychedelic research.
ABOUT MAPS
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. Learn more at maps.org.