Deaf Explorer

Presents Square-Eye Online Festival | 3-6 December 2020 | Watch on Facebook LIVE & ZOOM

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  • Deaf Explorer supports Ruth Montgomery and her charity Audiovisability

    Deaf Explorer supports Ruth Montgomery and her charity Audiovisability

    Deaf Explorer are pleased to have supported Deaf artist, musician, sign language user and Artistic Director of Audiovisability, Ruth Montgomery, who brings together music, technology, performance, and the visual arts in her practice.

    Deaf Explorer helped produce Audiovisability’s Two Hearts – a specially designed performance challenging the myths around deafness and music.

    Click here to learn more about Two Hearts Concert .

    About Audiovisability 

    Audiovisability creates opportunities for deaf artists and utilises their skills. It is an experimental space that aims to bring Deaf people into the world of music.

    Founded by Ruth Montgomery, her Deaf leadership encourages artists to collaborate and work across disciplines from a d/Deaf perspective. Ruth’s artistic process is always collaborative; it pushes boundaries and shapes new ideas whilst having the added value of making music accessible to children with wide range of disabilities as well as giving hearing children the opportunity to understand music.

    Ruth Montgomery at the Two Hearts Concert, CBSO Centre, Birmingham. Photograph by Graeme Braidwood ©

    Ruth Is an award winning music teacher and her deafness means she has learnt to play and compose music in a different way. Ruth is always pioneering new ways to teach and involve people in music, establishing a pedagogy, that celebrates her life long enquiry into making music more accessible.

    Through Audiovisability, Ruth can deliver her vision whilst still focussing on national and international charitable objectives. Audiovisability is active in the use of technology and is attracting support from tech companies seeking to deepen users experience of music using haptics and vibrio tactile technology.

    To learn more about Ruth and her Charity Audiovisability, please visit https://www.audiovisability.com/  

  • Deaf Explorer and Culture Central co-host Access & Inclusion Seminar

    Deaf Explorer and Culture Central co-host Access & Inclusion Seminar

    Ahead of the International day of Disabled Persons 2021, Deaf Explorer collaborated with Culture Central to co-host their pilot Access & Inclusion Seminar.

    The free event was aimed at artists and organisations, giving them opportunity to discuss, listen and understand ways in which we can make our activity, organisations and programmes more accessible.

    Hosted by Kiruna Stamell and Gareth Berliner, the seminar included presentations from:

    Maral Mamaghanizadeh, Deaf Jewellery Maker & Visual Artist
    https://maralmmghn.wixsite.com/home
    Twitter: @maral.mamaghani

    Rachael Lines, Artistic Director of FRONTLINE Dance
    www.frontlinedance.co.uk
    www.frontlineartsfestival.co.uk
    Twitter: @FRONTLINEdance1

    Billy Read, Deaf Dancer & Dance Theatre Maker
    www.billyreaddancer.com
    Twitter: @DefMotion
    Instagram: @defmotion

    Aiden Moseby, Artist, Curator & Writer
    https://aidanmoesby.co.uk
    Twitter: @TextArtist
    Instagram: @aidanmoesby

    Matthew Gabrielli, Writer
    Twitter: @Mr_Gabrielli

    Karen Newman, Artistic Director of BOM
    www.bom.org.uk
    Twitter: @BOMlab

    BJ Edwards, Writer and Theatre Maker

    Robyn Surgeoner MBE, Disabled Artist and Access Consultant
    www.together2012.org.uk
    Twitter: @ukdpctogether  

    Mary Jayne Russell De Clifford, Deaf Actor and Theatre Director
    https://maryrdec.wixsite.com/home

    Luke Greenwood, Jake Jarvis and Richard Hayhow, Actors and Theatre Makers part of Open Theatre www.opentheatre.co.uk 

    Luke Greenwood and Jake Jarvis spoke about their experience of Open Theatre as an accessible talent empowering organisation.

    During the event, the following questions were raised through provocative discussions:

    • What do Deaf, Disabled and Neurodiverse artists want to change in the cultural sector, regionally?
    • How can the sector be more welcoming and improve access?
    • How could the cultural sector improve access for Deaf, Disabled and Neurodiverse artists and audiences?
    • How can the cultural sector be more transparent and make networking  more accessible for Deaf, Disabled and Neurodiverse artists?
    • How can the cultural sector work together to support Deaf, Disabled and Neurodiverse artists to move beyond scratch nights and R & D’s into production and touring?
    • How can we remove/reduce tokenism and specialist commissioning?
    • What does specialist commissioning achieve in the short term and long term?
     

    What do we plan next? For visually impaired and blind audience members, we understand that the event was not accessible. We also received feedback that for the audience on zoom there were a lot of technical problems with sound. We will endeavour to improve this next time.

    “It was a very insightful program into the challenges artists face with access to arts organisations and performance spaces.”

    Access & Inclusion Seminar Attendee.

    Overall however, we had a terrific response with people hungry for more depth and detail and of course quick solutions so they can be a better arts organisation. Deaf Explorer calls for organisations to be braver, take risks, and demonstrate this by commissioning Neurodiverse artists, Disabled and Deaf artists. Let’s improve the governance of arts organisations with the representation of Disabled people at the board level.

    In the coming months we plan to host more Access and Inclusion Events in order to kick start a road map for change.

    Interested in speaking at a future event? Get in touch by completing the contact form below:

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  • Making live performance by classically trained musicians more accessible at CBSO, Birmingham

    Making live performance by classically trained musicians more accessible at CBSO, Birmingham

    Watch the 1 minute promo with Dame Evelyn Glennie, describing why this Arts Council England funded initive by Ruth Montgomery and produced by Deaf Explorer could change audiences expectation of a live performance by classically trained musicians, and make music more accessible.

    Deaf dressage rider, Dana, on her course in Oklahoma, USA

    Arranged by Audiovisability Artistic Director, Ruth Montgomery featuring virtuoso percussionist, Dame Evelyn Glennie.

    Streamed from the CBSO centre, Birmingham on 16th September 2021.

    Click on this link to watch the concert with interviews

    Two Hearts Concert Programme

    More information about the project here: https://atomic-temporary-41341013.wpcomstaging.com/two-hearts/

  • CBSO, AUDIOVISABILITY and DEAF EXPLORER present Two Hearts Concert

    CBSO, AUDIOVISABILITY and DEAF EXPLORER present Two Hearts Concert

    Two Hearts

    To celebrate UNESCO’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd 2021, CBSO, AUDIOVISABILITY and DEAF EXPLORER will deliver a week of online workshops and performances dispelling the notion that deafness and music do not go together.

    Schools have the option of participating throughout the week. We encourage everyone to watch the concert with Dame Evelyn Glennie on Friday 3rd December.

    Monday 29th November 2021

    No.1 Laurentia & Sherlock’s Theme Tune

    Activity:  Music & Movement – time signatures & rhythms
    You’ll need:  Access to Youtube links.

    –  Link to online workshop  AV Two Hearts Workshop Pack

    Ruth Montgomery

    Keys signatures in music are something that took me years and years to understand, why and what, how they are used – to the hearing person they can hear the changes in keys (known as modulation) – from going hot to cold (imperfect cadence) etc sad to happy (perfect cadence) and this is not something that comes easily to me.

    Tuesday 30th November 2021

    No.2 La Peregrinación

    Activity: Music & Storytelling – performance & soundscape
    You’ll need: Paper, coloured pens, access to Youtube links

    –  Link to online workshop  AV Two Hearts Workshop Pack

    Responding to music visually with non-verbal sign language

    Wednesday 1st December 2021

    No.3 Sugar Plum Fairy & Senorita

    Activity: Music & Sign Language
    You’ll need: Paper, pens, access to Youtube links

    –  Link to online workshop AV Two Hearts Workshop Pack

    What impression on the imagination does music create, eg excitement, dark, haunting, peaceful, gentle like flows of water in a stream.

    Thursday 2nd December 2021

    No 4: Two Hearts

    Activity: Music & Visual Arts
    You’ll need:  paper, art materials

    –  Link to online workshop AV Two Hearts Workshop Pack

    “Building on layers with paint, I see similarities to the artistic process of a cellist or string quartet to that of a landscape painter, with each instrument having its own texture.”

    Friday 3rd December 2021

    No.5: Full Concert Experience

    You’ll need: Youtube link and some popcorn.

    Playback of Two Hearts Concert

    A concert celebrating the world of Dressage Music at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO)

    –  Link to Steam specially edited concert footage and interviews, with subtitles and BSL available December 3rd 2021

    Click on this link to watch the Two Hearts concert at CBSO

    Joining the CBSO will be Dame Evelyn Glennie, Nao Masuda – Japanese Taiko and world-renowned dressage composer, Tom Hunt. This is your opportunity to watch a technologically ground-breaking concert, audiences will experience both classical and world music and will explore music visually through  Zoe McWhinney Visual Vernacular (VV) performances and creative captioning.

    Interviews now give context to the action-packed programme; Dame Evelyn Glennie open’s with a fanfare inspired improvised piece and performs a custom composition, ‘East and West’ with Nao Masuda. There will be performances of Para-Equestrian Laurentia Tan’s previous competition pieces and iconic classical tracks.

    It is a truly eye-opening experience that reimagines what a traditional concert is. It should not be missed.

    Two Hearts Concert Programme

    Deaf Explorer

    Deaf Explorer transforms the autonomy and destiny of D/deaf artists. We forge radical approaches and creative opportunities to produce contemporary D/deaf culture.

    Audiovisability

    Founded by Deaf Musician Ruth Montgomery Audiovisability is a charity bringing the highest quality of classical and non-western traditional music to deaf people.

    Founded in 2016, Audiovisability is passionate in its belief that deaf people can, and do, engage with and make music. Our projects focus on making audio visible, showcasing the talents and tenacity of the lived experiences of deaf people.

    Through our work we are already showing that deaf people are quite able to realise their music potential on an equal footing with hearing people when given the right opportunities and resources.

    Working with deaf children, deaf artists and deaf communities locally and globally, Audiovisability designs and delivers collaborative creative professional interventions and inclusive learning environments that are wholly original in their shape and form.

    link 

    CBSO

    The CBSO is committed to supporting and developing the musical education of children and young people, building their skills as creators and performers, expanding their musical interests and experiences, and inspiring a lifelong appreciation of live performance.

    link

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  • Troi Lee encourages deaf visitors to the Installation House of Feeling

    Troi Lee encourages deaf visitors to the Installation House of Feeling

    On the 24 November 2021, Troi Lee presented the visual history of Deaf Rave followed by a conversation with Artist Adi Dowling’s about why he made House is a Feeling and transformed a shop floor into 3 rooms about racism in the eighties, and the arrival of house music, and ecstasy in Coventry and how it changed the city.

     

     

     

  • Deaf Theatre Maker Matty Gurney works with Deaf Mental Health Consultant Herbert Klien

    Deaf Theatre Maker Matty Gurney works with Deaf Mental Health Consultant Herbert Klien

    Left to Right: Ralph Bogard, Alex Nowak, Tracey Briggs & Matty Gurney

    Matty Gurney and the Creative team worked with consultant Herbert Klien, expert in Deaf Mental health patient experience . The sessions with Herbert Klien gave a history of Mental health services over the past thirty years, with specific focus on deaf patient experience, including common behaviours. Herbert also described how the medical treatment had changed and how attitudes towards deaf people had changed.

    The sessions with Herbert Klien were very successful, because they succeeded in moving the project away from the ambition to adapt the play One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The R&D demonstrated that there was now, a more urgent story to tell about Deaf mental health. The input over a number days with Herbert Klien replaced the sessions with deaf mental health service users.

    Deaf Actor Alex Nowak during the R&D session with Matty Gurney & Herbert Klien

    Using the shared language of BSL, Actor Alex Nowak and Artistic Director Matty Gurney pulled together the R&D and made a number of performances for camera. Together they produced a remarkable piece of work.

    Mentor George Mann could see great potential as the work clearly demonstrated Matty Gurney’s ability to be a leader in the rehearsal studio and devise new theatre work that is relevant to deaf and hearing audiences. Dr Sally Austin was overwhelmed by the performance stating how important this performance could be for health professionals working with deaf people.

    Dr Sally Austin is keen to champion this work in the health sector and can clearly see the role of the show in a health setting.

  • Deaf Explorer’s Culture Recovery story by Asnath Losala

    Deaf Explorer’s Culture Recovery story by Asnath Losala

    Our culture recovery story

    What Deaf Explorer did during Covid-19 Restrictions to keep going and connect with our artists and audiences: Deaf explorer went online, with Square Eye Festival in December 2020 and May 2021. The festival was a mix of panel discussions and artist commissions. On facebook we had amazing audience figures. We made strong connections with deaf artists and deaf audiences.

    We also supported wellbeing with a Make-up masterclass and encouraged online audiences to get cooking with Scott Garthwaite and Lucy Clark.

    To bring BSL to drag we organised an online drag course with Martin Fox-Roberts.

    All this work was made possible by Arts Council Englands, Cultural Recovery Fund, with Funding from Creative Black Country, Heriot-Watt University and Big Lottery.

    What Deaf Explorer did when restrictions lifted

    In August 2021, Deaf Explorer got back to producing Deaf Artists work.

    photo Graeme Braidwood

    Billy Read made a dance show for the outdoors in an urban city centre, in Stoke on Trent.

    Deaf dancer Billy Read had spent lockdown making online street dance tutorials for deaf children across the UK, funded by Deaf Sport UK and online workshops for schools funded by Arts Connect. During Deaf Awareness week Billy Read appeared on Blue Peter because a young viewer believed Billy Read deserved a Blue Peter badge for all his hard work and inspiring deaf children to dance.

    Before lockdown, Billy Read did a successful dance residency in 2019 with Frontline Dance. In summer of 2021, Billy Read was supported by Frontline Dance to get a commission at the outdoor festival Appetite in Stoke on Trent.

    During August Billy collaborated with Areil Fund and recent graduate from Wolverhampton University Ben Randall. Together they made “Forbidden identity” a new show mixing dance and non verbal story-telling. Deaf VV artist Duffy kickstared the work in the studio and Johnny Autin, a Birmingham based hearing choreographer shaped the work for the outdoors. Audiences loved the story about a young deaf person growing up. It is hoped Billy will tour his new show to Festivals in 2022.

    Rinkoo Barpaga maintains social distancing with Luke and Jake with Richard Hayhow Artistic Director of Open theatre

    Deaf Stand up Comic Rinkoo Barpaga collaborates with Open Theatre’s Artistic Director Richard Hayhow.

    Rinkoo Barpaga want to tell the  story of French Black clown Rafael Padilla (Chocolat), & his white clown partner George Foottit (Foottit) who were a popular performing clown duo in France in the late 19th Century.

    In August, Theatre maker and stand up comic Rinkoo Barpaga began work in the studio. His aim to make a performance about the first Black clown called Chocolate. Rinkoo collaborated with Richard Hoyhow who is an amazing theatre director who has for many years supported actors with a Learning Disability and on the autistic spectrum to take to the stage with “Open Theatre”. Rinkoo Barpaga made very funny performances with West Midlands based actors Jake Jarvis and Luke Greenwood.

    Corey Campbell joined Rinkoo’s artistic team. Corey is an actor/director from Strictly Arts. We now await the next stage of Research and Development and hope you will be able to see this show in 2022. This work made possible with a grant from Arts Council England and a seed commission for outdoor work from Deda Derby, who hope to support Rinkoo Barpga with the production and touring of a new outdoor work..

     

     

  • Visitors to Leicester’s Liberty Festival meet Deaf Artist Maral for Lantern Workshop

    Visitors to Leicester’s Liberty Festival meet Deaf Artist Maral for Lantern Workshop

    On 18th September 2021, Jewellery maker and visual artist Maral, invited all to Runcorn Hill Park to decorate her giant lantern with biodegradable materials, as part of the Liberty Festival 2021.


    During the lantern making, Maral used this space to discuss identity, intersectionality and our relationship with the natural world, and reflect on how the natural world does not respond to race, culture, gender and beliefs; it is the ultimate equaliser. These conversations helped inform the decoration on the lantern.

    Then on Saturday evening, the lantern creation was lit and proudly joined Liberty Festival’s parade in the park.

     

    Research and Development supported by Deafinitely Theatre Deaf Freelancers bursary and new work commissioned by Art Reach

  • Watch Deaf Explorer Artist Commissions

    Watch Deaf Explorer Artist Commissions

    For Square Eye Festival in April 2021; Deaf Explorer commissioned artists to make short films for two day online festival. Funded by Culture Recovery Fund Arts Council England

  • Maral awarded LEVEL Centre Residency

    Maral awarded LEVEL Centre Residency

    In August 2021, Maral was invited to have a two week residency at Level Centre to explore Tale of Tresses, alongside developing her artistic practice.  

    Week One was a virtual residency and Maral spent the week exploring a new series of jewellery, developing the jewellery and artistic polemic developed during her MA studies at Birmingham City University.

    She documented her journey on twitter: @MaralMamaghani

    Exploring Jewellery designs.

    Slowly getting there: Maral experimenting with new technologies to enhance her jewellery making.

    For Week Two, Maral went to the Level Centre with Leila McQuaid, dancer with Iranian heritage and was welcomed by Kerry Andrews, the centre director. During this week, Maral investigated the complex relationship between the dancer and the jewellery which she wore.

    Artist Maral with Dancer Leila during the final day of the residency.

    Tale of Tresses explores the stories of female migrants and refugees through dance, jewellery, and costume. Maral’s contemporary jewellery, made with human hair, is used in performance and worn by a solo dancer. Each piece of jewellery represents an element of Maral’s identity, and the jewellery as a collection represents Maral’s intersectionality as a Deaf Female Refugee.

    About Artist Maral

    Maral graduated with an MA from the school of Jewellery and Silversmithing from Birmingham City University in 2017. During her time at BCU, she created work that drew on her experience as a Deaf Iranian woman with feminism, oppression and the forced wearing of the hijab [veil] in Iran. As a woman in Iran, you are not allowed to uncover your hair, talk about feminism or sexuality, as these are taboo subjects.

    Leaving Iran and studying in the UK gave Maral a new perspective on the issues surrounding women’s rights. She began to use human hair as a material within her work, the hair representing the long term political struggle that exists in Iran. 

    Maral explored this conceptually by creating a series of brooches using her own and her Iranian friend’s hair. 

    Each brooch is unique, designed to match each person that has donated their hair. The hair decorates the brooch using patterns and symbols to represent the personality of the wearer, and the stories that they, as women, reflect upon.

    The structure of the brooch is made with a coconut shell, resembling a woman’s breast. The intention is to challenge the male patriarchy in Iran; you force me to cover my hair for modesty, to protect myself from men’s lustful gaze, but it is YOU that can’t control yourself. If I wear my hair on my ‘breast’, do I still break your rules?