Action for Hearing Loss are supporting the consultation process and have this message to share

"The Arts Council of Wales (ACW) and the National Museum Wales (NMW)  have recognised that “...despite targeted initiatives, we are not reaching as deeply into communities who face the greatest disadvantage as we would wish. We have more to do to ensure equality of opportunity across our communities (Widening Engagement Tender Brief, July 2020”. In response to this acknowledgment they have contracted myself and other colleagues in fields of disability and equality to undertake engagement with the Deaf community in Wales . 

ACW and NMW need to hear what Deaf led organisations, Deaf support support organisations and individual Deaf people themselves have to say about engaging in creative cultural activity, and what support might look like if they’re to be enabled to do this? They are seeking to better understand the interests, ambitions, frustrations of those who, for whatever reason, either choose to believe that the arts “aren’t for them” and have chosen not to use National Museums Wales as a resource, or who have been excluded and unable to attend, participate or work in the arts and cultural heritage sectors throughout Wales.

ACW and NMW have recognised that as public bodies in Wales they aren’t able to reach out in the same way we can through our networks and extensive experience in specifically with Deaf people.

During the next month or so myself and my colleagues will be running a series of engagement and consultation activities (ranging from Zoom 121 interviews, focus groups either face-to-face or online, online surveys) that seek to identify why someone feels excluded, why they are excluded and what can ACW and NMGW do to remove that isolation and barriers to attendance and participation? 

We are especially keen to talk to those Deaf people who never go to arts related events or visit the National Museums Wales due to no knowledge of available events, a lack of support or because of access restrictions (or other reasons).

Initially we wish to engage and consult with you as a Deaf led / support organisation, but we also need your help in identifying individuals, who are either members of your organisation or who you support directly with your services, to take part in 1-2-1 interviews or focus group discussions (online).

This is an amazing opportunity for the views of Deaf people to be properly acknowledged,  as we will be feeding back directly to the Trustees and Directors of the Arts Council of Wales and the National Museum Wales, in an attempt to open up access to the arts and cultural heritage sectors to all Deaf people. We also recognise that the current COVID19 pandemic means that some Deaf people are still shielding and most of us are concerned about returning to locations such as arts venues and museums (with large crowds of people). These concerns need to be reflected in any future programmes and engagement initiatives.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could complete this survey for organisations https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NV57TLW  and then also circulate the survey for individual Deaf people who are either your members or are those receiving support services from your organisation. 

The link for Deaf individuals survey is here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BJ8M8DM

Moreover, if you could also circulate a survey aimed at carers of Deaf people, for example family members and professional support service workers, that would also be greatly appreciated.

The link for the carers survey is here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RW5L7XD

I will be back in touch regarding the 1-2-1 interviews, focus group sessions in a few weeks time (as we recognise many Deaf people cannot easily participate in online surveys and we wish to ensure nobody is digitally excluded), but if you have any suggestions of individual Deaf people that you know would be willing to take part in further discussions please can you put us in touch with them (subject to their permission of course).

The link for the Welsh version:

Organisations: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LGM59N3

Individuals: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LG5K58S

Families and support workers: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LGHJLBW "