Deaf Communication Team reflect on hosting Fife’s first ever BSL culture day

This landmark event in March 2025 was developed in partnership with OnFife to highlight Deaf culture, language, and community engagement.

Event Highlights
The BSL Culture Day featured a diverse and engaging programme of activities designed to promote awareness and appreciation of Deaf culture. Some of the key highlights included:

• Film Screenings: A screening of A Power in Our Hands, a documentary that explores the history and heritage of the Deaf community in the UK. Additional short films by Solar Bear, a theatre company working with both Deaf and hearing actors, were also shown in a dedicated screening room.
• Community Marketplace: Between 12-2 pm, attendees had the opportunity to engage with local organisations and services at a marketplace, providing valuable information on how to get involved in the Deaf community and related activities in Fife.
• Digital Archive Display: Curated by the Deaf community, historical photographs showcasing Deaf culture and its evolution were displayed on digital screens.
• Jewellery Workshop: A bookable session in the Design Suite guided participants in crafting bespoke silver rings.
• Interpreted Exhibition Tour: Over at Kirkcaldy Galleries, an interpreted tour of Before and After Coal provided insights into Scotland’s coal mining history, with an emphasis on visual storytelling accessible to BSL users.
• BSL and Deaf Culture Book Collection: A specially curated selection of books on BSL and Deaf culture was displayed to enhance awareness and education.
• Heritage Tour at Fife Collections Centre: Prior to the main event, on Friday, 28th February, members of the Deaf community were invited to explore Fife’s rich heritage through a guided tour led by curators and BSL interpreters.

Community Reflections
Jennifer Anderson, Senior Development Worker at the Deaf Communication Service, expressed enthusiasm for the event, stating:
“Here in Fife, we will celebrate Deaf culture, promote awareness of Fife’s British Sign Language (BSL) Local Plan, and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone along.”

Dan Brown, Head of Creative Development at OnFife, highlighted the importance of the event in aligning with the BSL Local Plan for Fife:
“We’re excited to be working with colleagues in Fife Health & Social Care Partnership and other local organisations to celebrate BSL culture, language, and community. This joint partnership ensures that BSL users have full access to Scotland’s cultural life and equal opportunities to enjoy and contribute to the arts.”

From a community perspective, attendees shared positive feedback about the event. Several participants who took part in the jewellery-making workshop expressed how much they enjoyed the experience. Others found the coal tour particularly interesting and engaging. Additionally, many attendees felt connected to the film A Power in Our Hands, with one Level 1 BSL student noting that watching the film significantly helped them understand BSL better.

Symbolic Recognition
A significant moment in Fife’s history was marked as the Deaf flag was raised at Kirkcaldy Town Hall and displayed at Kirkcaldy Galleries. This was an unprecedented event, as the Deaf flag had never been flown over a Council building in Scotland before, making it a powerful symbol of recognition and inclusion.

Reflections from Fife’s Deaf Communication Team
The BSL Culture Day was a ground-breaking event that not only celebrated Deaf culture but also fostered inclusivity, awareness, and community engagement. With BSL interpreters available throughout the day, the event successfully ensured accessibility for all attendees. This celebration marks an important step towards greater recognition and integration of Deaf culture within Fife and Scotland as a whole.

Rodney Dawson is a proud Fifer, a native BSL user, and a lifelong advocate for the Deaf community. He was motivated to help create an event which ensured the local Fife BSL community could come together, celebrate, and take pride in their identities.

Looking ahead, Rodney and the Fife BSL community hope that other councils will follow in Fife’s footsteps by creating their own BSL Culture Days, helping to spread awareness, celebration, and pride for the Deaf community across Scotland.

Excitingly, Fife Council and On Fife are already in talks about BSL Culture Day 2. Watch this space for more details on what promises to be another fantastic celebration of Deaf culture and community!

If you are inspired to run your own BSL culture day and would like to connect with Fife’s Deaf Communication Service for help with ideas, please contact Rodney.Dawson@fife.gov.uk.

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