ART&SIGNS - Art, culture and Museum Accessibility for Deaf audience

The ART&SIGNS project was developed to enhance museum services for Deaf visitors, as identified by the 'MADE Museum and Art education for Deaf Empowerment' Erasmus+ KA2 project (2019-2021). The MA...

The ART&SIGNS project set out to enhance museum accessibility for Deaf visitors and can now report the successful achievement of its objectives: Educational Model: We've implemented a training program for museum staff, covering basic sign language skills and Deaf culture, to enable effective communication with Deaf visitors. The curriculum was enriched by the active participation of Deaf experts in the arts. Video-Dictionaries: A comprehensive collection of cultural and artistic signs was created in video dictionaries, available in multiple sign languages and International Sign, to facilitate Deaf inclusion across borders. E-Learning Platform: An e-learning platform was launched hosting these video dictionaries and OERs, allowing free access for museum workers and the Deaf community. It includes features for users to contribute new signs, ensuring its growth. The ART&SIGNS project has engaged museum professionals and the Deaf community as primary beneficiaries, with valuable involvement from Deaf trainers, artists, and stakeholders such as Deaf associations and accessibility organisations.

Throughout the ART&SIGNS project, we successfully executed several key activities: Curriculum Design (PR01): We created a curriculum for museum workers to impart key skills in national Sign Languages, alongside knowledge of Deaf culture and effective communication strategies with Deaf visitors. This was informed by a comprehensive context analysis that identified existing skill gaps through digital engagement with the Deaf community, laying the groundwork for the initial curriculum version. Training of Trainers (LTTA) (PR01): We conducted training for Deaf and hearing sign language trainers to develop the curriculum content for museum staff and outline necessary teaching skills and methodologies. Platform Development (PR02): A multilingual e-learning platform was developed to host a virtual video-dictionary space, including video dictionaries of sectoral signs in art and culture, as well as the educational materials from the curriculum framework. Educational Materials Development (PR03): Innovative OERs were created, including video dictionaries that serve as repositories for signs related to cultural and artistic contexts. These were developed with the input of Deaf artists and the wider Deaf community, utilizing tools like social media and videos to address their specific needs. Museum Worker Training (Pilot Training) (PR01): We delivered pilot training to 15 museum workers per partner country (96 total), incorporating contributions from Deaf artists and experienced trainers in art, culture, and sign language. The training utilised the video dictionaries and OERs available on the e-learning platform. Video Dictionaries (PR03): 105 Sectoral signs related to art and culture were systematically integrated into the dictionary of six national Sign Languages and International Sign. Transnational Network Establishment: A network of Deaf and hearing trainers, Deaf artists, and museum operators was established to facilitate collaboration and exchange through a dedicated virtual space. The project's execution has enriched the educational landscape for Deaf accessibility, establishing a sustainable and comprehensive suite of resources for cultural institutions and the Deaf community.

The concrete output and results produced during the project implementation are as follows: • a transnational context analysis presenting the skills gap and barriers experienced by museum workers to make accessible their services to Deaf visitors, as well as the challenges faced by Deaf people in enjoying culture, and existing practices of awareness-raising and training addressed to museum workers in 6 partner countries; • a Curriculum including 6 modules to train museum workers transferring them basics national Sign Language, Deaf culture knowledge, communication skils and strategies to be used with Deaf visitors, and how to use sectoral signs related to art and culture in the museum context. • A customised learning and training activity addressed to hearing and deaf trainers finalised to acquire skills and competence, methodologies and approaches to be used for teaching museum workers; • 105 video-dictionaries covered 7 topics in 6 national sign languages and International Signs, available in app/virtual space, as incubators collecting specific signs related to the cultural and artistic context in the partners national Sign Languages, involving Deaf artists in the discovery of sectoral signs related to the art and culture; • development of innovative educational resources uploaded in the project e-learning platform aimed at training museum workers in national SL, sectoral artistic signs and Deaf culture. • Development and implementation of a multilingual e-learning platform hosting video-dictionary and open educational resources; • 6 training courses involving 96 museum workers and 21 Deaf and hearing trainers and artists experiences in the topic of art, culture, sign language, Deaf culture and communication strategies to be used with Deaf people; • a transnational network of Deaf and hearing trainers sign languages users, Deaf artists and museum operators working together through a dedicated virtual space. • Six multiplier events involving museum institutions, public authorities, organizations working in the field of art and culture for presenting project approaches, tools, and methods at operative and policy level; • Improvement of partners’ staff competence in the specific fields targeted by the project; • Setting up of a strong network among partners and between partners and project stakeholders at national level.