I am excited to share some wonderful news: I have been awarded a FY2027 Artist Opportunity Grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts!

My Cycle A application was recommended for the full $1,500 award to support my continued professional development as a curator and the next phase of my artistic practice.
This moment means a great deal to me because my journey as a curator did not begin in a traditional gallery.

It began in 2010, when I hosted an art show in my own home. I wanted to create a space where art, Deaf culture, and community could come together. That experience planted a seed that continued to grow. Years later, I became a curator at the Dyer Arts Center, where I spent six years developing exhibitions and creating opportunities for Deaf artists. Today, I continue that journey through the Melanated Deaf Visual Arts Project (MDVAP).

The Next Phase of My Curatorial PracticeMy funded proposal, “Melanated Deaf Curatorial Practice and Accessible Exhibition Development,” focuses on strengthening my skills in inclusive exhibition design, DeafBlind-centered accessibility, Protactile-informed engagement, and culturally responsive curatorial practice.

As a curator, I want to think beyond simply placing artwork on gallery walls.

I want to explore what happens when an exhibition is designed from the beginning with Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened audiences in mind. How can an exhibition incorporate tactile experiences? How can ASL and visual communication become part of the exhibition experience rather than an accommodation added afterward? How can we create spaces where Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other historically underrepresented Deaf artists are not simply invited into the room, but centered within it?
Those questions are becoming increasingly important to my artistic practice.

Through this grant, I will continue developing my curatorial skills through professional development and mentorship while exploring accessibility-centered exhibition planning, materials, documentation, and community engagement. The work will directly inform future MDVAP exhibitions and programs.

From a Living Room to MDVAPWhen I think back to that first art show in my home, I could not have known exactly where it would lead.

But there is a thread connecting that experience to everything I am doing today: creating space for people whose art, cultures, languages, and stories deserve to be seen and experienced.

MDVAP is the next chapter of that journey.

My long-term vision is to continue building MDVAP into a platform where exhibitions, storytelling, accessibility, education, and community engagement intersect—and where Melanated Deaf and DeafBlind artists can receive greater visibility and opportunities.

Receiving this Artist Opportunity Grant tells me that this next stage of my curatorial development is worth investing in.

I am deeply grateful to the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the grant review panel for supporting my artistic growth and recognizing the potential of this work.

And I am grateful to the artists, community members, collaborators, mentors, friends, and supporters who continue to believe in MDVAP.

The work continues—and I am excited to see where this next chapter takes us.
​
— Earl Terry
Founder & Curator
Melanated Deaf Visual Arts Project (MDVAP)

The Melanated Deaf Visual Artists Project (MDVAP) is growing into something much larger than a single exhibition. What began as a vision to uplift Melanated Deaf artists is evolving into a living space for art, storytelling, accessibility, culture, and community connection.

This blog was created as a place to share updates, reflections, announcements, artist spotlights, and behind-the-scenes moments as MDVAP continues to grow across Arizona and beyond.

​MDVAP centers Deaf experiences, visual language, accessibility, and creative expression. As this project continues to evolve, I also hope this space becomes increasingly ASL-friendly through video updates, visual storytelling, and community engagement.

Over the past several months, many meaningful conversations, collaborations, and opportunities have begun to unfold. I am deeply grateful for the encouragement, support, and belief from community members, artists, organizations, and allies who continue helping move this vision forward.

​There is still much more to come.

Upcoming updates may include:

• 2027 event announcements
• artist opportunities
• workshops and accessibility initiatives
• community collaborations
• Deaf-centered creative spaces
• ASL video updates and reflections

Thank you for being here at the beginning of this journey.

​More soon.