Deaf Spotlight

Upper Banner ID: a white background with black brushstroke across it. 

What if the arts were fully accessible to everyone—where Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing community members could step into theatre, experience cinema, and appreciate the arts without barriers? 

That “what if” is exactly why Deaf Spotlight exists. 

With your support, we create opportunities by and for people with lived experience. Your gift today fuels the essential, behind-the-scenes work that makes it all possible—renting theatre space, compensating the Seattle Deaf Film Festival team, keeping our office open, and ensuring our programs have what they need to thrive. It may not sound glamorous, but it’s the foundation that makes every performance, exhibit, and film happen. 

When you give, you open doors to more possibilities. You help Deaf Spotlight continue bringing stories to life—onstage, on gallery walls, and on screen—while uplifting Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing artists at every step. 

Our goal is to raise $40,000 by year’s end to sustain and grow this work. Will you help us get there? 

Thank you for believing in accessible arts and in the power of community. 

Overview

Deaf Spotlight (DS) focuses on the art, culture and creativity of the Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing (DDBDDHH) community in the areas:
 1) cinema 
 2) theatre 
 3) art & design
 4) arts education.

Since its inception in January 2011, DS has produced or collaborated over 180 events, with 15K attendees in 14 years! We are the producer of several biennial festivals: Seattle Deaf Film Festival featuring local and international films on and by Deaf community, Deaf Lit Fest spotlighting emerging and experienced Deaf authors, poets and graphic novelists, and Limitless Expressions - a performing arts festival curating local and out of state performers all over the United States. 

Our events feature new work by emerging and experienced DDBDDHH artists. Deaf Spotlight illuminates the artist within every Deaf person. Our work is the blueprint for a barrier-free, artist-centric world for people with disabilities. 

DS's core community include artists, educators and youth. These groups cannot exist on their own and DS has the cultural expertise to bring these groups together. However, because of the growing interest in the arts that DS initiated, DS runs short due to its lack of continued funding. DS had an operational milestone (June 2021) when the Executive Director was promoted to a permanent full-time employee. We had another milestone (August 2024) where we first hired our part-time employee: Operations Director.  

With additional funding, DS plans to bring in two more part-time positions specializing in development and finance to support the Executive Director and DS' unique arts programming. Deaf Spotlight just moved into their first ever office & art space on Capitol Hill last year! 

Our long term strategy plan includes a year-round artist-in-residency program where DDBDDHH artists can work on their crafts and be inspired by peer artists.

Board:
Michael Anthony - Chair

Jennifer Harris- Vice Chair

Bruce Visser - Treasurer 

Aly Boote- Secretary

Carol Brown - Board Member
Yiru Chen- Board Member
Candace Williams - Board Member

Staff:
Patty Liang - Executive Director
Danica Metlay - Operations Director

Images below: 

Row 1: a) VV performers for Limitless Expressions 2025, b) Amina & Jamila Ouahid up close, c) Urban Jazz Dance Co Ensemble and d) Patty Liang (Executive Director) & Michael Anthony (Board Chair) at their new office opening 2023.  

Row 2: a) Deaf Lit Fest 2024 fireside chat with Ross Showalter and Sara Nović, b) Seattle Deaf Film Festival (SDFF) milestone from 2012 to 2024 with Buddy Elledge (Creative Director) and Patty Liang (Executive Director), c) SDFF fireside chat with Andrea Passafiume and Elsa Sjunneson, and d) Summer Solstice Community Art Exhibit

Row 3: a) Alexandria Wailes with cast for Short Play Festival (SPF) 2023, b) Rhonda Cochran and Rogan Shannon in action for SPF 2023, c) SPF 2023 production team and ensemble, d) our first SPF 2019