About Deaf Arts Network UK

DANUK, formally Deaf Arts Network, is a first for Deaf and Hard of Hearing artists in the Midlands and we encourage those from all over the UK to join.

The artists, all with differing mediums ranging from fine art, dance, music, painting and photography to sculpture, are actively involved in creative projects at the Deaf Cultural Centre. Aptly named, Creative Hands, an annual Deaf Arts Festival, took place recently for the second year running and brought arts and crafts by professional Deaf artists to interested visitors via a week-long exhibition and a number of workshops with regional and mainstream schools.

Creative Hands is the latest milestone for the development of the network in becoming a consultative group as part of an innovative scheme to raise awareness of Deaf people as artists with the knowledge and skills that they offer.

Developing art and performance by Deaf people is the aim of the Deaf Cultural Centre and very much at the heart of its vision. Art by professional Deaf people is currently on display throughout a number of rooms at the Centre. The Centre also provides an inclusive and welcoming space for the deaf artists to deliver their knowledge and skills to other amateur and professional deaf artists.

This began in 2007 with the appointed co-ordinator (Lisa Davies) finding artists to form the UK's first Deaf Arts Network and 2 years later, there are now between 30-35 artists on the list. Some hail from as far as London and Wales. An arts focused conference during early 2007, highlighted difficulties and problems faced by deaf artists, forged new partnerships with other arts related organisations in the Midlands namely Age Concern, the CBSO, Ikon and Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Museums. These exciting partnerships expanded opportunities for the deaf artists with exciting and interactive projects, some of which continue today. Click on the relevant link to find out more about each project.

If you are interested in buying or commissioning artwork or a project or sponsoring the work we do, this will help the network, contact us for further information or to find out how you can be involved.