1. Mission Statement This project aims to fulfill four primary goals:
To make traditional opera accessible to D/deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.
To conceive new, experimental ASL performance works, incorporating the visual, musical, and theatrical aspects of opera.
To nourish a reciprocal cultural relationship between D/deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing communities.
To explore the ways in which ASL can enhance and transform established classical forms for both D/deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing audiences.
Opera is a dramatic art form that combines music and theatre to tell a story. The visual components of opera – acting, movement, design, stage direction – work alongside the musical elements to convey a compelling narrative that has the power to transport and transfix audiences.
We believe that opera offers a fruitful space to empower accessible forms of storytelling; to foster creative collaborations across cultures and communities; and to innovate new artistic forms and experiences. Our project aims to increase and enhance the accessibility of opera performance for the D/deaf and hard-of-hearing community, while also expanding the expressive potential of established classical forms by blending them with therich tradition of ASL performance.
2. Project Timeline & Remuneration This is a multi-year project in the following stages:
Year 1: Workshop & Development
Year 2: Community Performances & Project Growth
Year 3 onward: Creation and performance of a new, large-scale ASL opera
Collaborator(s) are not required to commit long-term to multiple years of this project. However, we do look forward to working with artists who are interested in generating ideas that will continue to be developed over time.
Year 1 will entail a workshop phase during which we will develop ideas together. This will mostly take place starting in Fall 2019, in the Montreal and Toronto areas. Additionally, a small group of artists (already determined) will attend a creative performance lab in Summer 2019 to pilot some project ideas.
Years 2 & 3 will see further growth and development of this project, including community performances for children and youth. In Year 3, we intend to work with D/deaf and hearing creative artists to conceive and perform a long-form ASL opera. In accordance with our Statement on Cultural Appropriation (see below), D/deaf and hard-of-hearing creative leadership and perspective will remain a foundation of this project at all times.
Years 2 and 3 Remuneration: We will use the video recordings and project goals developed throughout Year 1 to secure grant funding, which will allow us to disseminate full professional remuneration to all collaborators going forward.
3. Commitment to Accessibility The hearing allies and creative partners involved in this project intend to advocate for all accessibility needs, and to fundraise and apply for grants to ensure access to interpreters and/or other measures as determined by the D/deaf and hard-of-hearing group members.
4. Statement on Cultural Appropriation In establishing this project, we recognize that American Sign Language is a central component of Canadian D/deaf culture; and that Canadian D/deaf culture itself is a unique, vibrant, and important component of Canada’s cultural landscape.
To achieve our group’s goals without appropriating ASL or any aspect of D/deaf culture, we intend to collaborate at every level with D/deaf and hard-of-hearing creative artists; to pursue anti-oppression training; and to regularly solicit feedback from D/deaf and hard-of-hearing community members both within and beyond this project. At no point will the hearing members of this project perform in ASL.
D/deaf and hard-of-hearing collaborators will be at the core of this project's artistic leadership, and will be involved at every stage and decision in the creative process.
5. Contacts Feel free to reach out to us to ask questions or let us know of your interest in this project!