News
Upper ID: a black background with white capitalized text: “News” and a black and white image of art curators: Brittany Castle and Kellie Martin during group art exhibition installation 2019.
Help wanted: Volunteers & Freelancers
Are you savvy with social media? What about marketing? Are you amazing with writing posts? Do you believe in equitable accessibility? You want to share your expertise / giving back to the community? You cannot live without the arts?
We are building our marketing/communication team- on the look out for new committee volunteers and freelancers (local/ remote). We have amazing creative projects coming up!
ID: white background with digital illustrated people, teal blob at right bottom corner with Deaf Spotlight logo. Purple headline: "HELP WANTED:" and black bullet points: "MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS, VIDEO EDITING, and ACCESSIBILITY"
#giveBIG2021
For next two days (May 4-5, 2021), Deaf Spotlight and other amazing local organizations are asking for your support during the giveBIG fundraising campaign. Deaf Spotlight is now in its 10th year of inspiring and showcasing Deaf Culture and Sign Languages through the arts. Help us continue our work featuring amazing Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing artists for another ten years, and more after that!
Invest in Deaf arts with Deaf Spotlight.
ID: a teal background with scattered art supplies. Deaf Spotlight logo at the upper right corner. A diagonal white graphic brush mark with a white outlined yellow heart with text: “giveBIG 2021” and teal text on white brush on right: “May 4-5, 2021.” White text beneath the heart: “Support Deaf Arts.”
Opening up the shop!
Deaf Spotlight just launched an online merchandise shop! Get your new merchandise and show off!
ID: a photo of a shop’s door with a sign: "OPEN.”
Congrats to 2021 BIPOC Deaf Arts Grant Recipients!
Please join us congratulating the first ever grant recipients of the BIPOC Deaf Arts Grant.
-MARTINA BELL
-MALIKA FREEMAN
-GEORGE CHRISTIAN VASQUEZ
-YIQIAO WANG
PURPOSE
The Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Deaf Arts Grant is a new annual program that provides financial support for emerging and established artists to further advance their careers.
Deaf Spotlight’s mission is to inspire and showcase Deaf Culture and American Sign Language through the arts. The Deaf Arts Grant will make a crucial difference for BIPOC Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing artists to thrive in the challenging arts field.
The number of grants given out each year is dependent on funding available. In 2021, Deaf Spotlight will award (4) recipients $1,000.00 each. At least one recipient will reside in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, or Idaho) and at least one recipient will be a National selection outside of the Pacific Northwest region.
To sign up for grant updates and opportunities, please email BIPOCDeafArtsGrant@deafspotlight.org.
ID: dark blue background poster with colorful graphic elements (orange, pink and purple). Cursive white headline: "Congratulations!" White text: "BIPOC DEAF ARTS GRANT RECIPIENTS." Vertical white text on left: "2021." 4 circular headshots clockwise: Martina Bell (Black woman in a black blazer), Malika Freeman (a Black female with Heterochromia eye: black and blue, and dyed blue hair), George Christian Vasquez (an El Salvadoran in a black shirt and handshape "3" covers half of his face), and Yiqiao Wang (a Chinese-born person with long hair and eyeglasses in a pink jacket). Deaf Spotlight Logo on bottom right corner.
HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY, DEAF SPOTLIGHT!
We have exciting announcements to share today with you all!
Deaf Spotlight cannot exist past 10 years without you all: community, supporters, artists, volunteers, board, and all who have contributed and supported our creative events over the years. We want to thank you for your time, support and energy nurturing our organization's growth. Thank you.
Come and see what Michael Anthony (Board Chair), Buddy Elledge (Marketing Director), and Patty Liang (Executive Director) have done so far with Deaf Spotlight!
ID: Teal background with cut out stars with Deaf Spotlight logo in the middle.
In Support of Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities
We are saddened by the recent shootings and mourn the losses the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities have faced here in the United States since the beginning of COVID-19. We also recognize that this is a long-rooted behavior and has been problematic since long before the pandemic. It is clear to us that the recent attacks are perpetuated by unfounded fears and stigmas. We condemn any and all forms of hate against any racial communities and stand in solidarity with the AAPI community.
Deaf Spotlight is an organization that welcomes diversity in all shapes and forms. The violence against the AAPI communities remind us of how much work we have to do to dismantle systemic racism and further the work towards equity.
We recognize the important contributions the AAPI community can bring to enriching all of our lives through their shared experiences. Art serves as a place to share experiences, process grief, and promote healing. We, Deaf Spotlight, the board, the volunteers, and our contractors will continue spotlighting those who are underrepresented and contributing to a world where intersectional histories, cultures, languages, and arts can be celebrated without fear.
We will continue our journey in racial equity both within and without, continuing to understand and unpack the privileges we may have been raised with, to unlearn ingrained practices, and with that, ensure we operate with equitable practices as one of the stewards for the arts.
How to support AAPI communities?
In Solidarity,
Deaf Spotlight
ID: dark blue background with white text: “stop aapi hate.”
ID: dark blue background with white text: “end white supremacy.”
Tickets on sale for our virtual Short Play Festival 2021!
Deaf Spotlight will present their biennial Short Play Festival featuring six new stories by Deaf playwrights from all over the United States. The virtual festival will take place virtually April 9 - 11, 2021.
During the weekend, six ten-minute plays written by Deaf artists and starring Deaf actors will be available as short films on demand along with live stream panels. The plays will be performed in American Sign Language with English captions to ensure accessibility for all audiences. Transcripts will also be available upon request.
Live panels will have real time captions and voice over. All recordings will have captions and transcripts.
All proceeds will go back to the festival’s overhead expenses and participating artists.
Early Bird Ticket (Feb 15 - March 14, 2021): $15 per person
Regular Ticket (March 15 - April 11, 2021) : $25 per person
Announcement: Short Play Festival 2021
Check out Short Play Festival Director, MoMo Holt's announcement! Deaf Spotlight will host a virtual Short Play Festival 2021 from April 9-11, 2021. Follow us on social media: @deafspotlight for upcoming details!
#deafspotlight #deaftheater #deafplaywright #deafcreatives #deafdirector #deafactor #deafstagemanager #deafeditor #shortplayfestival #spf2021 #seattle
ID: green background with teal unfurling toilet paper rolls diagonally across the screen with white capitalized/shadowed text: "Save the Date, Short Play Festival, April 9 - 11, 2021, deafspotlight.org/dsp"
Workshop: Character Development & Scene Study
Visionaries of the Creative Arts and Deaf Spotlight will partner up to offer workshop series this year. Kicking off with Character Development and Scene Study, Alexandria Wailes will work with you to build confidence and to learn the important balance of being prepared and giving yourself permission to love what you do for the stage or screen via virtual workshops.
Character Development:
Learn tools on how to develop and layer complexity of the character(s) you are portraying.
Scene Study:
With the other participants in the workshop, we will deconstruct scenes from a play. We will identify various components such as the piece in historical context, sign choices, mannerisms and honoring the words of the playwright.
Level / 2021 Dates:
Intermediate: Feb 1, 8, 15, 22
Beginner: Feb 4, 11, 18, 25
Session duration: 2 hours
Time: 3 PM - 5PM PST/ 6 PM - 8 PM EST
Workshop fee: $100 for 4 sessions
BIPOC Deaf Arts Grant
Deaf Spotlight is thrilled to launch the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Deaf Arts Grant, which provides financial support for emerging and established artists to further advance their careers.
Deaf Spotlight’s mission is to inspire and showcase Deaf Culture and American Sign Language through the arts. The Deaf Arts Grant will make a crucial difference for BIPOC Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing artists to thrive in the challenging arts field.
The number of grants given out each year is dependent on funding available. In 2021, Deaf Spotlight will award (4) recipients $1,000.00 each.
The application window is now open until April 9, 2021 by 11:59 PM PST.
Please visit our grant page for more details.
Happy New Year!
Deaf Spotlight wishes you health, creativity and happiness in the new year ahead!
Live Painting with Kellie
Need a visual break from your daily routine? Join Kellie Martin, Art & Design Director, for a Live Painting session on our Facebook page on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 3 PM PST/ 6 PM EST.
Art Support Group
Want to network with other Deaf artists? Here's your chance! Join Deaf Spotlight for a recurring Art Support Group gathering.
When: Sunday, January 10, 2021
Time: 6-8 PM PST
Up to 20 spots.
Please RSVP: art-design@deafspotlight.org
This is a Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing space only. Thank you for your understanding.
For any access requests, please email art-design@deafspotlight.org with your specific needs at least two weeks before the event date.
#deafspotlight #deafartists #deafcinema #deaftheater #deafblind #deafdisabled #deaf #hardofhearing #artdeaforganization #deafcreatives
Professional Development Survey 2021
If you are a Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled or Hard of Hearing practicing artist, please help us by taking the first anonymous Professional Development Survey.
Deaf Spotlight (DS) would like to gather data annually on practicing artists all over the United States: #pocdeafcreatives, #deafcreatives, #deafblindcreatives, and #hhcreatives. The results will be shared with the public, artists, peer organizations, and be available for grant writing purposes.
*practicing artist- A person who approaches their work with a professional mindset (discipline, commitment, persistence, etc) to create art which may or may not lead to sales at the end. Source
Survey deadline: Sunday, January 31, 2021
WHAT WE WANT TO LEARN:
-Current status of Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing artists nationwide
-What artists need to succeed in their fields
-How arts organizations can best support artists in their cities/regions
GOALS:
-To make informed decisions about programming and activities involving artists
-Be responsive to artists’ needs
-Use data to better advocate for artists and arts organizations that serve artists
Acting Topics Survey
Visionaries of the Creative Arts and Deaf Spotlight are collaborating to offer acting workshop series during 2021.
We would like to know what kind of topics you are more interested in learning about acting. Here’s the survey for you to fill out by December 31, 2020: https://forms.gle/YBfPgwY2ggzdxAmn6
Here is the survey video in ASL with captions and transcript: https://youtu.be/wOmZsoRjKCs
Going Virtual!
For 2021, Deaf Spotlight will offer virtual programming to ensure ongoing dialogues and creativity among the Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing arts communities due to COVID-19 pandemic.
We will announce the event lineup in early January 2021. Be well.
New Website!
COVID-19 presented an opportunity for us to reevaluate our online platforms and what we can improve to increase visibility of Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing artists’ intersectional experiences.
Have fun exploring our new website. If you have any feedback, email us at info@deafspotlight.org.
GivingTuesday
On Tuesday, December 1, 2020, please consider making a donation to Deaf Spotlight through an online campaign: “GivingTuesday.” Your contribution will help us further our mission: inspiring and showcasing Deaf Culture and American Sign Language through the arts.
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.
Annual Report 2019
What a year! Thank you for your patience as we navigate through COVID-19 pandemic this year. Please enjoy our 20119 reflections as we forge ahead.
From the Stage to Zoom: Hands On Theater Accessibility 4 DeafBlind & Deaf Audiences
Join us for a friendly discussion roundtable with Kaitlyn Mielke on the current situation for Deaf & DeafBlind audiences, now that live performances have moved to a virtual platform during this pandemic.
Time: 4-6 EST (1-3 PST)
Location: Zoom meeting room
Price: Free
What to bring: Questions and experiences regarding Deaf/DeafBlind theater accessibility for virtual & live performances. (Focus on Deafblind access, though access benefits all Deaf, HOH, and hearing as well).
Please be considerate of your background and wardrobe choices as well as lighting options for visual accessibility.
This event will be in ASL only. SPACE LIMITED TO 18 PEOPLE
If you cannot make it, please email your feedback to us at info@deafspotlight.org. We would love to have your thoughts and inputs!
Email us to RSVP by Friday, November 13, 2020. More details will be shared after your confirmation. Accessibility Requests need to be made by Nov 1, 2020 to ensure full participation.
Guest Facilitator: Kaitlyn Mielke
