Ivana Hay

2.20 Art as a Gateway to Deaf Culture: Embracing Unexpected Territories in Education (Paper) – virtual

Ivana Hay – Department of Art Education, Faculty of Education, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic – virtual

Abstract:

My presentation will explore the content of my dissertation, Gallery and Museum Education in the Art Education of Deaf Pupils, which investigates how art serves as a vital medium for raising awareness of the Deaf community as a cultural and linguistic minority. With support from a SYLFF fellowship, I have conducted research in the USA, Poland, and the UK, examining how various nations use accessible art programs in galleries and museums to support Deaf education. In the USA, I was inspired by the Deaf View/Image Art (De'VIA) curriculum, which not only empowers Deaf and Deafblind students to understand their cultural heritage, language, and identity but also provides an inclusive framework that benefits hearing students. By engaging with De'VIA, hearing students become more aware of the Deaf community as a distinct linguistic and cultural group, fostering a more inclusive societal perspective. My goal is to introduce this approach within Czech Deaf education, where a similar curriculum could affirm Deaf students’ cultural identities while also bridging understanding within the hearing population. Integrating De'VIA in Czech schools could thus serve as a gateway to visibility, promoting an appreciation of Deaf culture and enabling Deaf students to connect with their heritage in a way that enriches both their individual growth and the broader societal acknowledgment of the Deaf experience. Through art, we invite students from all backgrounds to explore the unexpected territories of Deaf culture and identity.

11.5 Bridging Worlds: Deaf Culture and Accessible Art Education in Gallery and Museum Spaces (Poster) – virtual

Ivana Hay – Department of Art Education, Faculty of Education, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic – virtual

Abstract:

This poster presents the core findings of my dissertation, Gallery and Museum Education in the Art Education of Deaf Pupils, which examines how accessible cultural spaces – such as galleries and museums – can support art education for Deaf students in the Czech Republic. The study highlights the essential role of integrating Deaf culture and Deaf art into educational settings, recognizing Deaf individuals as a linguistic and cultural minority with unique educational rights. Supported by the SYLFF scholarship, I have conducted comparative research in the UK, Poland, and the USA to analyse approaches to accessibility and curriculum development. Notably, the USA has implemented Deaf View/Image Art (De’VIA) as a formal curriculum, affirming Deaf and Deafblind students’ rights to learn about their cultural heritage, sign language, identity, and advocacy through visual arts. The De’VIA curriculum, while aligning with national arts standards, empowers Deaf students and also serves hearing students by raising awareness of the Deaf community’s cultural and linguistic identity, particularly within ASL programs. A key component of this curriculum is the “Deafhood pedagogy” developed by Dr. Paddy Ladd, which centres Deaf identity and redefines perceptions of disability in education. The theoretical framework of this research examines visual literacy, museum education, and Deaf identity, focusing on accessibility and cultural rights. My fieldwork involved studying Deaf-led accessibility initiatives at institutions such as Gallaudet University and NTID in the USA, Deaf-led exhibitions in the UK, and the work of Deaf curators at the Museum Śląskie in Poland. These international insights significantly shape my Prague-based research, where I document Czech art education practices for Deaf students and assess opportunities to incorporate Deaf culture and art into the curriculum. My findings reveal how art education can effectively support Deaf identity, stressing the importance of integrating cultural heritage to foster inclusivity and enrich the educational experiences of Deaf students locally and internationally.