Being a Deaf Woman and an Artist | Deaf Culture Week | meeting
What?
A discussion focused on the experiences of Deaf women who are actively involved in the arts and culture. During the conversation, the participants will talk about their creative journeys, sources of inspiration, and how Deaf language, identity, and culture influence their artistic practice. It will also be an opportunity to discuss the representation of Deaf people in culture, the accessibility of institutions, and the barriers faced by artists who navigate the worlds of the Deaf and the hearing.
The discussion will also address issues such as the presence of women in the art world, mutual support, professional development, and the importance of arts education for young Deaf people. The event will take the form of an open conversation with audience participation, creating a space for sharing experiences and asking questions.
Who?
Taking part in the meeting will be:
Dominika Kozłowska—a deaf actress, a graduate of the Acting School in Wrocław, and a full-time actress at the Juliusz Słowacki Theater in Kraków.
Edyta Kozub—a deaf actress and artist specializing in Visual Vernacular, and a Polish Sign Language instructor at the University of Warsaw. She performs on stages in Poland and abroad.
Kinga Hołda-Justycka—artist, graphic designer, and photographer; exhibition and education specialist at the Katowice City of Gardens Gallery; graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice.
Led by:
Dr. Agnieszka Kołodziejczak—art historian, graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź and the University of Łódź, Ph.D. in the humanities, research assistant in the Department of the History of Painting and Sculpture at the University of Łódź. Project specialist at the FIDEES Social Ideas Foundation and vice president of the Ucieleśnienie Foundation.
For Whom?
The event is open to both Deaf and hearing people—to anyone interested in contemporary art, cultural accessibility, Deaf studies, and the role of women in the arts. It is an opportunity for those who want to better understand diverse creative experiences and discover how language and identity influence the way people create and participate in culture.
Why is it worth it?
The Łódź of Many Cultures Festival explores the world through a diversity of experiences, languages, and perspectives. The event “Being a Deaf Woman and Artist” expands on this idea, drawing attention to voices that are still too rarely heard in mainstream cultural life. This is an opportunity to explore the work and experiences of artists operating at the intersection of different linguistic and cultural worlds, and to reflect on how to build a culture that is more open, accessible, and representative. As an accompanying event to the festival, it expands its program to include an important dimension related to accessibility and inclusivity, reminding us that multiculturalism also encompasses a diversity of ways of communicating and participating in social life.
Accompanying event. Co-funded by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage as part of the “Linguistic Diversity” grant program of the Institute for Linguistic Diversity of the Republic of Poland.
Availability
The meeting will be interpreted from Polish Sign Language into spoken language and from spoken language into Polish Sign Language (PJM), making it accessible to both Deaf and hearing people.
The event will take place at the Center for Dialogue in the theater and theater hall, which is equipped with an induction loop. The Center for Dialogue building is accessible to people with mobility impairments. It has wide, non-automatic entrance doors, an accessible restroom, and an elevator. The theater hall is located on the ground floor, has a ramp, and the auditorium includes spaces for people in wheelchairs. In front of the building, there is a large parking lot with marked spaces for people with disabilities. Assistance dogs and guide dogs are welcome both inside the building and in the auditorium. The building is equipped with the ToTuPoint audio navigation system. The entrance to the parking lot is on Wojska Polskiego Street. Nearby bus and tram stops include: Wojska Polskiego/Centrum Dialogu and Wojska Polskiego/Sporna.
Photos: Dominika Kozłowska, Edyta Kozub, Kinga Hołda-Justycka, press materials.