Presenters

Magdalena Bielak-Kościńska

Poland. The graduate from the Warsaw University, specialization psychology. The psychologist in the School and Educational Centre for Deaf in Warsaw and the owner of Polish Sign Language School Edu PJM.

Paulina Celińska

Poland. Historian of the art. The experienced animator and the coordinator of cultural events, the specialist in the promotion and accessibility of the art for persons with disabilities, the specialist public relations and of marketing in the culture. The creator of the Small Warsaw Autumn - of Festival of the Contemporary Music for Children. Many years’ partner of the International Festival of the Contemporary Music "Warsaw Autumn", employee of Zachęta - of National Gallery of Art, earlier connected with the Centre for Contemporary Arts - Ujazdowski Castle. Currently coordinator of the accessibility in Zachęta - of National Gallery of Art. The creator of the Encyclopedia of the Art in the Polish Sign Language.

Anna Folchi

Italy. Graduated from the "National Theatre of the Deaf"-Waterford, Connecticut, USA. Teacher of theory and practice of LIS (Italian Language of Signs) by the Ente Nazionale Sordi (ENS) seats in different Italian towns, by high-schools and universities in Italy and by some associations abroad. Cooperation with the State University and the Bicocca University of Milan for linguistic research (Italian and LIS). Author of International Dictionary of Deaf Artists – Il colore in silenzio.

Tomasz Grabowski

Poland. He is born in 1988 year. He is a graduate from Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Graphics Faculty. He was a grant holder of Socrates Erasmus Program, at the École supérieure Estienne des arts et industries graphiques in Paris, France in 2013 year. Cofounder of Group of Deaf Artists.

Remus Ilisie

Romania. He comes from Oradea. Graduated from the Faculty of Visual Arts in Oradea, master's degree in painting at the Academy of Visual Arts `Ioan Andreescu` in Cluj-Napoca. Teacher of Romanian Sign Language for adults. The participant in international youth exchange programs, in individual and group exhibitions for hearing artists in Germany, Czech Republic and Romania. He is taking with painting, making pictures and installations, writing, direction and cut short movies. He is also a mime.

Michał Justycki

Poland. He was born in 1970 year in Saint Petersburg and he was studied in the Art Institute in Saint Petersburg. He lives in Katowice. Student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Graphics Faculty. Cofounder of Group of Deaf Artists. Creator and organizer of art exhibitions of deaf persons and the idea of open air art workshop under the title „I create then I am” from 2002 year. He took part in many open air art workshops for deaf artists in Poland and abroad. He is working as art teacher in House of Culture in Racibórz.

David de Keyzer

France. David de Keyzer is a recognized personality in the world of the Deaf. The actor, IVT video assistant in film and finally director. The creator of several documentary films and CinéSourds Association to distribute DVD documentary films and theater recordings. The founder of the International Clin d'Oeil Festival in Reims, France.

Agnieszka Kołodziejczak

Poland. She was born in 1976 year. She is a graduate from Textile and Fashion Design Faculty of Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź. She is a graduate from Philosophy Institute of Łódź University. She was a holder of scholarship of Norwegian government in art in Bergen, Kunsthogskolen, 2003/2004 academic year. Participant of open air art workshops, many group and individual exhibitions in Poland and abroad. President of “OUR GALLERY” Association in Łódź. Honorary title Lady D in Lodzkie Region and special award of the Lady D Poland Contest. Cofounder of Group of Deaf Artists..

Marek Krzysztof Lasecki

Poland. Painter, graphic designer, surdopedagogist, born in 1966 year in Łódź. Now he lives in Warsaw. He is graduated from Academy of Fine Arts in Lódź, Graphics Design and Painting Faculty. Initiator and cofounder of Group of Deaf Artists. Creator of plein air art workshops for deaf persons, known culture animator among deaf artists in Poland. He has rich output of individual and group exhibitions in Poland and abroad.

Ellen Mansfield

USA. She is a BFA graduate in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Member of the Deaf View Image Art (De’VIA) movement, founder of Ellen’s TileStroke Studio in Frederick. She led many workshops in ceramics, drawings and paintings for over 200 Deaf children, children of Deaf parents, and adults. She strongly believes in showing Deaf experiences through her artwork.

Jean-Cédric Ménard

France. Student of Fine Arts Studio in Versailles, 1999 – 2004. The participant of exhibitions in Versailles, Paris, Roma, Bratislava, Stockholm. The guide in Pompidou Musee in 2004 – 2010, the guide in University of Fine Arts in Marseille (ESBAM) in 2009 – 2011 and video-guide in Audiovisit in 2012 – 2015.

Roberto Rossetti

Italy. Cofounder of the Mime Theatre Company "Without words" ( 1978-1989), founder and director of the first Italian videotheque for deaf people ( 1989-1997) – around more than 3500 subtitled films. Promoter for the Historical Library of Ente Nazionale Sordi (ENS) in Milan, member of the Art, Culture, Theatre, Cinema and Free-Time Department of ENS in Rome, promoter of the first National Deaf Cinema and Video Festival in Milan, 2005. Author of International Dictionary of Deaf Artists – Il colore in silenzio.

Vanda Sagovac

Croatia. President of Croatian Association for Culture of Deaf and Hard – Hearing “World of Silence” from Zagreb. Qualified touristic guide and promoter of connecting culture with tourism as social tourism. Organizer of many exhibitions of Croatian artists and international painting and photography exhibitions in Croatia ( Zagreb and Dubrovnik).

Agnieszka Siepkowska

Poland. BFA graduate from the education of the deaf, Master degree in journalism, digital media specialization. Teacher of Polish Sign Language (PJM) and leader of group of teachers PJM in high schools in Wrocław, among them Wrocław University and High School of Language Studies). She is engaged with work of expert group about the Deaf by Polish Ombudsman (Prof. Irena Lipowicz).

Elżbieta Wiącek

Poland. The graduate from Film Studies at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, doctor in the area of the human sciences. Assistant professor in the Institute of Culture Studies at the Faculty of International and Political Studies at the Jagiellonian University. Author of books: Less busy footpaths to the paradise. About Jim Jarmusch films (Cracow 2001); Film journeys of Abbas Kiarostami (Cracow 2004).

Anna Żórawska

Poland. President of the Foundation of the Culture without Barriers, vice-chairwoman of the Social Culture Board by the President of Warsaw. The graduate of the Media Education and Journalism of the University of Stefan Wyszyński in Warsaw. The creator and the coordinator of projects "Apart from Silence and Darkness", "Culture without barriers" for the Office of the Social Policy and the Office of the Culture of the Warsaw City Office for the removal of barriers at the institutions for blind and deaf persons. Coordinator of the festival Warsaw Week of the Culture without Barriers, author of course books of audio-desciption to films and performances.

Published: 1 October 2015 r.