Abstract
How can cultural institutions engage Deaf communities without reinforcing linguistic hierarchies or passive representation? At GES-2 House of Culture in Moscow, our Deaf & Voiced program treats Russian Sign Language (RSL) not as an adaptation tool, but as a cultural force in its own right. This presentation highlights three approaches we’ve developed. 1. Reverse Inclusion: Why must Deaf and hard of hearing participants adapt to hearing-centered programs? Our RSL-first projects flip this norm, offering Deaf participants opportunities to learn, create, and engage directly in their language. Camps and long-term labs for Deaf children, teens, and adults are led by Deaf experts and center their perspectives. 2. No Representation Without Participation: Our theater lab Act challenges the idea that Deaf stories must be filtered through hearing interpreters. Deaf-led performances in RSL immerse audiences and reveal gaps in hearing-centric understanding, building empathy through embodied experience. 3. Research as Co-Creation: Traditional research often positions Deaf communities as subjects. Our Researching the Deaf Community initiative supports Deaf-led studies, workshops, and publications — shifting authorship and authority to the community itself. At the conference, we’ll present case studies from Deaf & Voiced, including video excerpts, design insights, and co-creation practices. We’ll share strategies for SL-first programming, reflect on institutional challenges, and offer audience feedback from both Deaf and hearing perspectives. We are also happy to include live or recorded contributions from Deaf team members and to present bilingually in International Sign and English.
Presenters
Varvara MerenkovaCoordinator of Programmes for the Deaf Community and Accessibility for the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inclusive, GES-2 House of Culture, Moskva, Russian Federation Vlad Kolesnikov
Curator of Programmes for the Deaf Community and Accessibility for the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inclusive, GES-2 House of Culture , Moskva, Russian Federation
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Deaf community, Deaf culture, Deaf community in museums
