The board of Deaf Explorer CIC are delighted that Arts Council England have chosen Deaf Explorer to help them make the arts be more accessible for deaf artists and deaf people. We will do this by changing the arts, so that a new generation of deaf creatives can thrive,
The grant will strengthen the company, pay for staffing, rent and overheads. Our team of freelance producers and artists will bring together deaf people and arts organisations to create a more tolerant and accessible arts industry. We look forward to announcing our programme of activity in 2023.
We are delighted that Arts Council England have chosen Deaf Explorer to help them make the arts be more accessible for deaf artists and deaf people. We will do this by changing the arts, so that a new generation of deaf creatives can thrive,
The funding will pay for core costs, allowing the company to focus on working with the arts sector to massively improve opportunities for Deaf artists. We will increase understanding about Deaf people who define themselves as a lingustic miniority and transform the arts sectors thinking about inclusion. We will advance our current models of best practice to involve deaf audiences and place artists at the centre of all we do.
The foundation for our work will be strengthemed by bringing together our board, staff and key freelance artists. Internallly we will scrtinise our own collective thinking about inclusion and find a common ground. Our aim is to go beyond removing the barriers Deaf people experience in the arts and prepare our organisation to be advocates for change in the arts.
We will train under-represented board members. Our Board will recieve training and we will set a benchmark for Deaf representation on Boards of arts organisations.
In partnership with Arts Organisations, we will deliver action research projects that will provide professional development opportunities for staff, freelance producers and artists. Our aim is to change thinking and establish good practice that will increase the visibility of Deaf culture in the arts.
Deaf Explorer will support a new generation of deaf artists. We will launch a talent development programme and offer six bursaries to artists who have not received an Arts Council project grant. We will involve arts organisations who want to learn how to remove barriers for new talent.
We will support the deaf community in areas of low enagement in the arts. We will faciliate networks improve planning and instill confidence. We aim to increase participation and co-creation by deaf people.
We will continue to produce Deaf Artists work. We will now have the resources to communicate widely about our best practice, through evaluation, conference, projects and online publications.
Photo credit Graeme Braidwood, Billy Read and Cog in the Wheel team made possible by creative city grants for commonwealth games cultural festival