Hear from our I Am Festival

2 April 2026

Hello. I’m the I Am Festival, showcasing the creativity of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent young people. I’m sorry to tell you that I happened a couple of weeks ago but hop on because there’s a story to tell and this journey is ongoing. Journeys was the festival theme, since you ask.

Me, Lynne Brackley, I’m one of the producers, just one of the big team that brought to life this immersive experience at Tate Modern: swooshing and swooping through the Fly Zone, rocking and rolling in the Wriggle Bit and swinging our suitcases all The Way. We invented new words and worlds and we made new friends. And in the end, it’s the people that matter. So, I’m going to introduce you to our cast of characters.

I am the curator with the plan and the connections. I track the what, the how, the who and the why.

I am the designer who has the vision of what things look like and how they work.

I am the artist setting out my stall, building my installation, unrolling the paper, counting the pairs of scissors.

Aaah!

I am the mouse that finds itself in the staff briefing, listening to talk about fire alarms and safeguarding. It’s all about the detail, isn’t it?

Hang on, what are you doing here?

I’m sorry I made you jump, but this festival is for everyone, right?

Deep breath. Moving on.

I am the bird-maker, flanked by my bird-making team, gathering my flock.

I am the bird all gold and shiny, marked with patterns, stuck with paper feathers. I fly up, up to the gallery (the actual gallery!) to the circles of stone and flint that give me a fitting backdrop for a bit of murmuration.

I am the feather that falls off the bird and on to the circle of stones. Oops.

And I am the gallery attendant who gently lifts the feather from the circle of stones. No harm done.

I am the student looking at a map of choices, going on a journey, making and dancing and …oh, what’s this?

I am the giant fidget spinner in a room of lights and pipes and sounds. Someone is lying on me. I spin them round and hear them smiling.

I am the planet revolving in the solidarity solar system telling the stories of my maker in colours and shapes and ideas. I hang with my companions, visible from the Starship Biscuit control room, calling to those journeying to a better world.

I am the quiet operator who schedules the journeys, delivers the sound system, manages the lunch room, hands out the maps, drives the lifts, points to the toilets, shares a joke, answers a request.

I am the Cultural Ambassador that welcomes at the welcome desk, pops up with games and warm-ups, animates the festival zones, drums and chants and flash mobs.

I am the drum that keeps the rhythm for suitcase parades and mini-mobs with calling and responding and parachute waving.

I am the cloud that floats over the bridge as floppy fishes swim and streamers stream and balloons appear on giant poles.

I am the suitcase that gives up my cargo of silk and foil and giant banner.

I am the banner that spreads and billows, held by many hands and giving out my message: “We are here.” WE ARE HERE.

I am the member of the public looking down on the bridge on a banner and a sea of young people in a major London gallery. (I came to see Tracey Emin. I wasn’t expecting that.)

Hello. I am the I Am Festival. Colourful, creative, collaborative. Eleven years old and counting.

With thanks to our partners at Tate, VOOT Collective, Touretteshero, Shermaine Slocombe, Heart ‘n’ Soul, AFK, The Complete Works, Beatrice Tate School and all the staff and young people who took part in the journey.