Deaf Art
Funding opportunities | Help and info
Deaf Arts Now is the annual European festival for deaf artists. VEE-TV went to Stockholm to see what it's all about
The Deaf Arts Now festival is going from strength to strength, with about 60 artists from many European countries attending the third annual event. Film-makers, poets, photographers, actors and visual artists got together in seminars and workshops to create original work, and the festival was rounded off by a public exhibition. Deaf Arts Now is a unique opportunity for deaf artists working in Europe to discuss and show their work – and to get together socially.
'Arts festivals too often focus on the audience,' a spokeswoman told us. 'This is different: we’re focusing on practitioners of art who need support.'
But the aim is also to reach out to a wider audience, and the organisers believe that such initiatives have a vital role to play in the Deaf community. 'With new ideas and perspectives, [the artists] can spread these experiences further and actively encourage other deaf people to express themselves,' they say. 'This is important especially in countries where sign language still isn't accepted as a full language. Art and culture are closely linked to the language and the right to express oneself, which has always been a perfect tool for justice and democracy.'
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Funding opportunities
'There are opportunities out there … if you are creating your own artwork,' John Wilson, of the arts organisation Shape, told VEE-TV. 'You can sell work on your own website, via an exhibition, which Matt [Jenkins] has done, or be employed by someone via a commission. There are a number of options. You can apply to the Arts Council, who have recently made a video in BSL on this subject; to charitable trusts; and there are opportunities to earn money as a freelance artist.'
So what are you waiting for? See Help and info for sources of help and support.
You could also express yourself by posting a message saying what you think about 'Deaf Art'. Does a Deaf Artist have to be a BSL user? Does the concept really have much meaning? Or is it irrelevant whether an artist is deaf or hearing?
Also, if you're an artist with experiences or advice to share, don't keep them to yourself!
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Help and info
Organisations
Artsline
54 Chalton Street
London NW1 1HS
Voice: 020 7388 2227
Textphone: 020 7388 2227
Fax: 020 7383 2653
E-mail: access@artsline.co.uk
Website: www.artsline.org.uk
Advice and information on access to arts, entertainment and leisure venues for Londoners.
Common Ground Sign Dance Theatre
Bluecoat Arts Centre
School Lane
Liverpool L1 3BX
Voice: 0151 707 8033
Textphone: 0151 707 8380
Fax: 0151 707 8033
E-mail: common.sign@dial.pipex.com
A celebration of personal and cultural diversity and the common ground within it through sign dance theatre.
Deaf Arts Now
Stockholms Dovas Forening
Palmfeltsvagen 13 B
121 62 Stockholm
Sweden
Fax: 0046 8 6625920
E-mail: info@deafartsnow.com
Website: www.deafartsnow.com
The annual European cultural festival for deaf artists.
Dorothy Miles Cultural Centre
2 Ludlow Road
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7NW
Tel: 01483 303888
Fax: 01483 303099
E-mail: dorothymiles@btconnect.com
Information about BSL and art/drama workshops for deaf and hearing children and adults.
Graeae Theatre Company
LVS Resource Centre
356 Holloway Rd
London N7 6PA
Voice: 020 7700 2455
Textphone: 020 7609 7324
Fax: 020 7700 8184
E-mail: info@graeae.org
Website: http://members.lycos.co.uk/graeae
Information about theatre training and writing opportunities as well as touring productions.
Music and the Deaf
Kirklees Media Centre
7 Northumberland Street
Huddersfield HD1 1RL
Tel/text: 01484 483115
Fax: 01484 483116
E-mail: info@matd.org.uk
Website: www.matd.org.uk
Information about access to music and related performing arts for hearing-impaired people of all ages and all degrees of hearing loss.
REMARK!
13-14 Greenwich Quay
Clarence Rd
Greenwich
London SE8 3EY
E-mail: info@remark.uk.com
Voice: 020 8691 0210
Textphone: 020 8691 0226
Fax: 020 8469 3689
A company dealing with all aspects of television/video production, multimedia and the internet. Also a regular contributor to Wolverhampton Film Festival, producing works around the theme of being deaf.
Shape
356 Holloway Road
London N7 6PA
Voice: 020 7619 6160
Textphone: 020 7619 6161
Fax: 020 7619 6162
E-mail: info@shapearts.org.uk
Website: www.shapearts.org.uk
Aims to increase access to the arts, to promote arts and culture by deaf people for deaf people, and to support artists in finding employment in the arts.
Links
Arts Council England
www.artscouncil.org.uk
The national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from government and the National Lottery.
Scottish Arts Council
www.scottisharts.org.uk
Arts Wales
www.artswales.org
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
www.artscouncil-ni.org
Access2Arts
www.egroups.com/group/access2arts
A forum for information and feedback, for deaf people, on access to the arts and theatre in the UK.
British Arts
www.britisharts.co.uk
A wide range of resources for artists of all types.
Funding Agents
www.fundingagents.com
Online information about grants and awards in the arts.
Talk Sign 'n' Create
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/talksigncreate
An international forum for deaf artists (professional and amateur) working in any art form to discuss their work, search for working partners, announce events and so on.
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