UEW Advances Inclusive Arts Education Through “Acting Beyond Sight” Initiative
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) is deepening its commitment to inclusive education and community engagement through an innovative creative arts initiative that is redefining access to theatre for people with visual impairments.
As part of an ongoing research project to identify practical strategies to promote the inclusion of visually impaired individuals in stage and screen acting, Mr. Divine Kyere-Owusu, a lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, facilitated an intensive acting workshop for students at Akropong School for the Blind in the Eastern Region.
The initiative, dubbed Acting Beyond Sight, engaged 22 students in a practice-oriented workshop designed to demonstrate that visual impairment is not a barrier to artistic expression or participation in theatre. Over several weeks of interactive sessions, participants explored acting techniques, improvisation, voice training, movement exercises and collaborative performance practices tailored to their abilities and experiences.
The programme provided a platform for students to discover and develop their creative potential while challenging societal assumptions about disability and the performing arts. The initiative also empowered participants to build confidence, express themselves creatively and embrace their identities as performers.
The students developed an original stage production based on a story they collectively conceived. The creative process fostered teamwork, imagination, problem-solving and self-expression, ensuring that every participant made a meaningful contribution to the performance. The workshop culminated in a successful stage presentation that showcased the students' creativity, resilience, discipline and growing confidence.
Reflecting on the project, Mr. Kyere-Owusu explained that Acting Beyond Sight seeks to broaden understanding of what it means to perform by moving beyond traditional notions that acting is primarily visual.
"Acting is rooted not only in visual expression but also in imagination, voice, movement, emotion, collaboration and lived experience," he noted. "This workshop has reaffirmed that, when provided with appropriate training methods and an inclusive creative environment, students with visual impairments can participate fully and excel in theatrical performance."
The initiative reflects UEW's commitment to embedding itself within society through research, innovation and inclusive education. The University continues to drive social transformation and create opportunities for all learners to thrive by promoting equitable participation in the creative arts and partnering with educational institutions.
