What matters to Deaf BSL users most regarding accessing arts and creative activities?

Access to British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation and captioning was the most crucial factor regarding accessing cultural and creative provision. Most  members of the Deaf community need BSL, and others prefer captioning.  There are very few  BSL interpreted or captioned shows. It is vital the entire process is accessible to Deaf people including advertising, booking tickets, attending the event, and giving feedback. It is important to be able to see the BSL interpreter and the captions from one’s seat. When seats reserved for the Deaf community are allocated far away from the stage, this makes it exceedingly difficult to follow the interpreter, especially when hearing loss co-occurs with sight loss. It is also important for staff working in the venue to have BSL awareness so that process of finding one’s seat or ordering a drink at the bar is not an uncomfortable one.

Older Deaf people might think some things, like the theatre, are not for them due to negative past experiences where access was not available. Many do not access free or low-cost local council-run arts class for over fifties due to lack of access. Deaf people enjoy the same variety of cultural and arts offerings as non-Deaf people provided suitable access is provided. Martin Griffiths from BDA observed a large attendance of Deaf people at a Pantomime in New theatre, Cardiff. The event drew Deaf people from across South Wales as it was accessible to them and well promoted by the Community itself.

There are organisations or services that offer support to Deaf people that can help increase their ability to connect with arts & culture.

British Deaf Association (BDA) Cymru has an Advocacy (Access and Inclusion) Service that has helped many Deaf people to ensure their rights are observed and to access services, etc. BDA Cymru advocacy includes Peer Advocacy which works one to one with Deaf people in South Wales. We help Deaf people to remain independent, maximise their income and gain access to services.  They have helped Deaf people maximise benefits such as PIP or Carers Allowance. Some Deaf have been supported to get discounted travel cards such as Transport for Wales Concessionary Card, Disabled Railcard or National Express Coachcard. BDA can support people to get Hynt or CEA cards too. BDA Cymru can work with the creative sector and offer advice on how to make services accessible. They offer practical help such as \translations of text into BSL or Deaf Equality Training.

HYNT is a well-established national access scheme that works with participating theatres and arts centres in Wales to make sure there is a consistent offer available for visitors with a disability  or specific access requirement, and their Carers or Personal Assistants.

Some arts centres such as Utilita Arena have their own access schemes, but these can be hard to access. Other schemes include the CEA Card which offers a free carer or companion at most cinemas. These schemes allow Deaf BSL users to bring someone for free.

However, many centres do not advertise access provision and by the time Deaf find out the event is sold out.

Smaller arts centres like the Sherman theatre and the Chapter Arts Centre have BSL interpreted film nights and theatre performances. Having the monthly Deaf Hub Wales coffee morning in the Chapter Arts Centre brings the Deaf community in hearing spaces and opens opportunities for dialogue and the exploration of new creative opportunities.

How do Deaf-friendly creative places look like?

For over 40 years Deaf families have utilised Deaf Hub Wales at 163 Newport Road as a safe location where ‘all are welcome’ regardless of their background. A Deaf Hub is the cultural and social home of the Deaf Community of Cardiff and the surrounding areas. It is estimated 200-300 people from all walks of life, member and non-members make use of the building for social events, training, information, consultations, spiritual guidance and much more. Many generations of families have used this building to meet with other members of the community, seek information, seek advice, worship, celebrate, learn, and even meet their life partners.

Taking Flight is a leading pan-disability friendly  theatre company in Wales. Their mission is to smash down barriers to participating in theatre & to constantly push the boundaries of creative access. It is to drive forward equal representation of Deaf & disabled people in theatre by levelling the stage. It is to alter the arts landscape in Wales & beyond by challenging others to think more inclusively.

The Sherman Deaf Theatre Club aims to increase to their cultural offer for the Deaf community. This includes discounted tickets, captioned or BSL performance, BSL introduction to productions, pre-show BSL support in our foyer and cafe bar areas, BSL post-show discussions for a selection of productions. They also provide BSL support in our Café Bar and Foyer before each of the Deaf Theatre Club performances. They also have visual bar menus. This helps Deaf pepple feel that this is a welcoming space that has condidered their needs.

Ardour Academy is a local non-profit organisation that aims to connect local communities together and celebrate the strength and creativity within local communities. They offer a wide range of creative and therapeutic opportunities, and this includes our weekly timetable of classes, creative projects, counselling, workplace well-being initiatives, and community events. They have recently made a pledge to make our services accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people in our community. As part of that pledge most staff and volunteers are learning BSL, and the company is working towards normalising the use of BSL ineveryday activities. They also offer BSL interpretation to certain classes, BSL lessons and crucially their website includes a video in BSL about their activities.

The inclusion of BSL provision in large festivals like Glastonbury and spaces like Deafzone and Deaf Pride events has been very welcomed and these events have been well-liked by the community.

What is important to understand for people who want to create BSL-friendly creative activities?

• BSL is a language with its own structure and grammar, it is not a signed form of English. Older Deaf people struggle with English as English is their second language. One cannot translate directly from English to BSL. Professionally trained and registered interpreters would need to provide this interpretation.
• However, providing interpretation for events is only part of the process. When promoting events to Deaf audiences, a video message in BSL can be embedded on the main website to describe the event.
• Older deaf audiences might have difficulty using an online booking form and if they need support with booking, they would not be able to use the phone. Video relay Service options such as Sign Live or Sign Video could be included through support from Language Line or another interpreting company.
• In performance venues, it would help if ticketing, hospitality, crowd management and first aid staff were also Deaf aware.
• Consider incorporating the BSL interpreter in the play, some theatre performances do that, and the interpreter is like an additional actor on the stage.