Ivana Hay (also known as Iva Hay; born 1979 in the Czech Republic) is a Deaf researcher, artist, and doctoral candidate at Charles University in Prague. Her scholarly work focuses on art and museum education for deaf pupils and the cultural accessibility of galleries and museums.
Early Life and Education
Born to hearing parents who did not use sign language, Hay grew up initially relying on oral methods and lip-reading. She later learned Czech Sign Language and developed her language and communication skills through reading and perseverance[1].
She studied special pedagogy and art education (double major) at the Faculty of Education, Masaryk University, and took an Erasmus exchange at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK, where she studied British Sign Language, English, and illustration techniques[1].
Professional and Creative Pursuits
Hay has worked as an English teacher at a school for deaf students in Prague–Radlice, taught adult deaf learners, led art workshops, and serves as deputy editor of the magazine UNIE, published by the Czech Union of the Deaf[1]. She co-founded Czech Deaf Art 3+1, a collective organizing art workshops, photography courses, history of art lectures, contests, and a series of interviews titled Czech Deaf Art Café to promote Deaf artists and culture[1].
Doctoral Research and Academic Focus
Currently a PhD student in Art Education Didactics at the Faculty of Education, Charles University, Hay is researching how art education in galleries and museums can be made accessible and meaningful for deaf pupils, integrating Deaf culture and art into educational programming[1][3].
Supported by a SYLFF fellowship in 2021, her doctoral thesis—Gallery and Museum Education in the Art Education of Deaf Pupils—maps the current state of education for deaf children at special schools, in collaboration with cultural institutions, to improve accessibility and inclusion[3]. Her research includes fieldwork and comparative study visits to the USA, Poland, and the UK[2][3][4].
- Jiřičková, J. (2022, September 15). Iva Hay Tetauerová: Být neslyšící je životní výzva. Charles University Magazine. Retrieved from UK Forum.
- Česká sekce INSEA. (2025, July 19). Art as a Gateway to Deaf Culture: Embracing Unexpected Territories in Education (Paper) & Bridging Worlds: Deaf Culture and Accessible Art Education in Gallery and Museum Spaces (Poster) – virtual. INSEA World Congress.
- Sylff Official Website. (2021). Ivana Hay – Fellows Profile. Sylff Association.
- INSEA Conference post (2025). Ivana Hay. INSEA World Congress page.
