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Deaf Cultural Festival
September 24, 2023 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
10 a.m.–4 p.m. | All activities and performances are FREE
You’re invited to the 9th annual Deaf Cultural Festival at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art! Encounter and learn about Deaf Culture and American Sign Language through hands-on art activities and performances from distinctly d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing perspectives. ASL interpretation and voice interpretation provided.
We strongly recommend registering for the festival in advance. By registering online ahead of time, you can skip the museum check-in line and get your event wristband as soon as you arrive. Save time and register today:
Register for FREEPERFORMANCES
ASL Lit
10:30 – 11:00 a.m. | repeats 3 – 3:30 p.m. | Atkins Auditorium
Screening pre-recorded video of students from the Kansas School for the Deaf perform poetry and stories in American Sign Language.
The Rosa Lee Show – WONDER
1– 2:00 p.m. | Atkins Auditorium Overflow viewing in Lens 2
“Wonder” is an engaging and immersive one-woman show that brings the magic of American Sign Language (ASL) to life through storytelling, skits, musical performances, and interactive moments with the audience.
ASL Storytelling
11:30 a.m. – Noon |2:30 –3 p.m. | Kirkwood Hall
Join Marie Qualls and Michelle Plummer for stories told in ASL! Learn how to sign from elements in the stories.
ARTMAKING WORKSHOPS AND ART WALKS
Laura White “Working Together” Perler Bead Workshop
10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | repeats 2 – 3:45 p.m. | Classrooms 4 & 5
ASL Art Walk
Noon – 12:30 pm | Repeats 3:00 – 3:30 pm | Meet in Bloch Lobby
Follow Deaf Educator Ashley Watson in the galleries to discuss and learn about artwork in the museum’s collection.
ACTIVITIES
ASL Paper Hands Drop In Artmaking
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Kirkwood Hall
Learn American Sign Language handshapes by creating a paper sculpture.
Annual Library Benefit Book Sale
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Bloch Lobby
Browse a wide variety of art books at incredible prices. Proceeds support new acquisitions for our Spencer Art Reference Library.
View the program!Resource Booths
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Sculpture Hall
Visit with our community partners and learn about available local resources from the Kansas and Missouri Commissions for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Uncover stories about works of art in the Nelson-Atkins collection with the Smartify app, which you can download by scanning the QR code. Tours are provided in American Sign Language!
THANK YOU
Thank you to our museum volunteers and members — the art and soul of the museum — whose support makes festivals like this possible. Learn more at artandsoulkc.org.
A special thank you to our community partners:
The Kansas School for the Deaf
The Whole Person
Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture
