Notes & signs
The Notes & Signs Project began as a four-day inquiry-through-engagement in 2023, seeking to understand the barriers for the d/Deaf community in experiencing live music effectively and equitably, both as musicians and audience members. This initial inquiry was supported by a Building Capacity Grant from the Arts Council of Ireland. The project aimed to identify the resources and training required for stakeholders, interpreters, and the community to access this missing audience for music and create a pipeline for new musicians.
Learnings in 2023
During our initial inquiry, we encountered numerous barriers in trying to include d/Deaf audiences in our work. Securing hearing ISL interpreters for live music performance was almost impossible, and identifying Deaf interpreters willing to interpret our videos was equally challenging. There was a significant lack of training to support interpreters in ‘interpreting’ music. This resulted in the exclusion of a section of the community, which we found unacceptable.
In February 2023, we completed inquiry events to better understand these barriers. We worked with Deaf musician Ruth Montgomery of Audiovisibility, who helped us identify what we didn’t know, begin developing solutions, and share knowledge and skills to support accessible music-making for all children and their families. The feedback from our family workshop at the National Concert Hall, workshops in Deaf Schools, a masterclass for ISL interpreters, and a roundtable for programmers was overwhelmingly positive, with participants asking, “When will you be back?”
Notable Attendees in 2023
The Directors of The Arts Council and Creative Ireland attended our roundtable discussion, along with the Director of the National Concert Hall, the Inclusion/Education Outreach Managers of the NCH and The Abbey, and local authority representatives. Their participation highlighted the importance of addressing the lack of music education and support for Deaf children.
Expanding Our Reach 2024
The Rethink Disability Participation and Awareness Fund allowed us to take our learnings from 2023 and build capacity to deliver live music to Deaf children and families. We aim to show that music can play a vital role in their lives by creating confidence and understanding in the ISL interpretation sector and among music programmers that d/Deaf audiences and musicians should be catered for.
Key Activities
- Workshops for Deaf Schools: Introducing music appreciation, music-making, and interpretation at primary and secondary levels in Cork, Dublin & Limerick.
- CPD Programme Development: Organising a two-day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program for Irish Sign Language interpreters to build understanding and confidence in music interpretation.
- Family Music Concerts: Delivering a series of family music concerts in Dalgan Park with stakeholder engagement to maximize attendance and impact.
Looking for Future Partners
We are ambitious to continue and grow our initial collaboration with Audiovisibility founder and Deaf musician Ruth Montgomery, Deaf interpreter Sarah Jane Moloney, and other key stakeholders.
Our goals for the future include:
- Strengthening Relationships: We are growing our relationship with Deaf Schools and units in Ireland through workshops to develop students' appreciation for music and advocate for the appointment of music teachers.
- Delivering Concerts: Organising family music concerts with stakeholder engagement to maximise attendance and impact.
- Building Resources: Supporting young d/Deaf children and their families in accessing live music performances and purchasing vibrational subpacs to support Deaf ISL Interpreters working with us or workshop/concert attendees to feel the music.
We are excited to engage with the d/Deaf community, alongside the ISL interpretation community and leaders in the arts and music community, who are passionate about reaching new audiences. We invite potential partners to join us in growing this work and building the necessary resources to support inclusive music experiences for all.
For more information about the Notes & Signs Project, upcoming events, and how to get involved, please visit our website or follow us on social media.
Project Partners 2023 and 2024
Collaborators
