Deaf Cultural Festival
Sep 19, 2026
10:00 am
–
4:00 pm
Free
Museum admission includes entry to Deaf Cultural Festival
Honor the rich history of art, identity, and empowerment in the d/Deaf and hard of hearing communities
Welcome to the 11th annual Deaf Cultural Festival at the Nelson-Atkins. Learn about Deaf Culture and American Sign Language through hands-on artmaking, short films, and community resources focused on distinctly Deaf perspectives. ASL interpretation, CART captioning, and voice interpretation are provided.
All activities are free.
Schedule
Festival details subject to change
Films
Framing Deaf Stories: A Short Film Event
1:10 PM – 1:37 PM: The Eye Rated 14+
1:37 PM – 1:50 PM: Dinner Table Syndrome (13 min)
1:50 PM – 2:05 PM: Die Geschichte Meiner Familie Rated 14+
INTERMISSION 2:05 – 2:15 PM
2:15 PM – 3:10 PM: Unmasking Deaf Education
Q&A DISCUSSION TO FOLLOW
Artmaking workshops and activities
ASL Alphabet Watercolor Workshop
10 am-noon | Classrooms 4 and 5
Join artist and educator Marie Qualls as she guides you through creating personalized watercolor pieces inspired by ASL hand shapes.
AVAILABILITY IS LIMITED TO 50 SPOTS PER WORKSHOP –– FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
Nelson-Atkins ASL pop-up
10 am-4 pm | Kirkwood Hall
Drop in throughout the event to create a paper pop-up to learn the ASL symbol for the Nelson-Atkins.
Self-guided ASL tours on Smartify
Explore the Nelson-Atkins collection with Smartify. Click the link, follow the prompts to download the free app, then search for “Nelson-Atkins.” Discover stories behind the art and enjoy a self-guided tour in American Sign Language.
Learn more
Resource booths
10 am-4 pm | Kirkwood Hall and Sculpture Hall
Meet our community partners — The Whole Person, Kansas School for the Deaf, and the Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture — and learn about local resources from the Kansas and Missouri Commissions for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and DeafLEAD.
Free festival pin for members
If you’re a museum member, stop by the Info Desk in Bloch Lobby to claim your free Deaf Cultural Festival enamel pin. To collect your pin, present your member ID card or digital membership receipt. If you’re not a member, join online or visit the Info Desk to learn more about membership opportunities.
Help protect the art
Please help us protect the art by following these important guidelines:
- Enjoy food or drinks in designated areas only
- View from two feet, but don’t touch (even outdoors)
- Wear backpacks in front or use our free coat check
Thank You
Thank you to our museum volunteers and members — the art and soul of the museum — whose support makes festivals like this possible. To learn more, visit the Info Desk in Bloch Lobby or 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
Save the date
Dia de los Muertos Festival
Sunday, Nov. 1 | 10 am–4 pm
