What you’ll do
Join us for an evening of Visual Vernacular (VV) and poetry performances to reflect on the power of sign language to unite, express and communicate.
VV is an expressive art form that uses hand movements, body motion, and facial expressions to create powerful visual storytelling. It uses purely visual elements to evoke emotion, meaning, and connection.
Between 5pm and 6pm, there will be a number of individual performances by Olivier Calcada, Zoë McWhinney and Duffy across different parts of our building. Then, between 7pm and 8pm, the three artists will perform with each other, and this collaborative performance will move to different areas of our building.
Book a ticket, and closer to the event we’ll email you a programme with the timings and locations of their performances.
During the performances there will be space for you to sit, lean or stand.
This unique event is inspired by our ‘1880 THAT’ exhibition and ‘Finger Talk’ installation, which you’ll have the opportunity to explore throughout the evening. Our other gallery spaces will also be open.
This is a relaxed event, so you can move around. There will also be a Chill-Out Room with low lighting, comfortable seating, cushions, mats and space to move around. You can also make use of ear defenders, earplugs, stim toys and materials with different textures.
British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters will be present to support you throughout the night. All performances are in VV and these will not be interpreted into BSL or translated to spoken English.