About Hands UP

Below you will find detailed information about the wide range of offers at the Hands UP exhibition. Scroll through the sections and find out everything there is to know or jump directly to a section on the left (dots).

Information for schools

Immerse yourself in foreign worlds

How can I talk to deaf people?

Is school for deaf children different?

Can deaf people watch TV?

How can deaf people get to school on time if they can't hear the alarm clock?

Can deaf people also ski?

A particularly important target group for the year-round exhibition are schoolchildren (from around the age of 8) and students from all educational institutions. Participation in HANDS UP is an important part of social learning and the promotion of social and personal skills. It has been shown time and again that people who have already had positive experiences with deaf people (but also with other minorities) during their school and university years carry a positive attitude towards this group into their later social environment. They shape an inclusive and barrier-free future.

Together with our deaf guides, we offer interactive and humorous guided tours so that you and your class can immerse yourselves in the world of silence for an hour. Discover new worlds together:

What does it feel like to hear nothing? What barriers and access points are there for deaf people? How can you communicate even if you don’t speak the same language? What do facial expressions and body language express and why is sign language not international?

There is no minimum amount of participants and up to 30 people can start at the same time. The tour lasts about 1 hour and we kindly request that you arrive approx. 10 minutes before the start.

Life is a journey of discovery

Our deaf guides take children and young people on an exciting journey of discovery into the world of sign language and deaf culture.

They show them how much fun sign language can be. They fuel their curiosity to get to know the realities of life for deaf people. And you are at their side when they experience music like deaf people for the first time.

People who have had positive experiences with deaf people (or other minorities) during their school years carry a positive attitude into their later social environment. They shape an inclusive and barrier-free future.

Exhibition pedagogy

The exhibition education and mediation is tailored to the respective age group.

We recommend a visit for children and young people aged 8 and over.

School sponsorships

HANDS UP is endeavouring to recruit companies for school sponsorships. School sponsors buy a quota of tickets, dedicate them to a school and thus give young people free access to the exhibition and raise their awareness of an inclusive world of diversity.

Information for companies

Corporate offers

HANDS UP on Tour

the exhibition is coming to you

Combine HANDS UP On Tour with an awareness-raising seminar or use the opportunity for team building.

Would you like to get to know the world of deaf people? We offer you a temporary or permanent installation with our travelling exhibition. HANDS UP On Tour adapts to local conditions and interests.

More information as pdf or contact us via Mail: office@handsup.wien

Corporate events

Teambuilding

Your company and your employees will clearly benefit from a visit to Hands Up!

Because the shared experience strengthens the group. Because mental barriers are broken down. Because new horizons are opened up. Because it strengthens the courage to try out new things. Because diversity opens up new possibilities. Because creativity is given new impetus. Because new horizons open up. Because it strengthens the courage to try out new things. Because diversity opens up new possibilities. Because creativity is given new impetus. Because it’s fun!

There is no minimum amount of participants and up to 30 people can start at the same time. The tour lasts about 1 hour and we kindly request that you arrive approx. 10 minutes before the start.

Exclusive guided tours

For your group

HANDS UP also offers exclusive guided tours for your company or group on request, specially tailored to your needs: 1 hour just for you, no other people from outside the group will be booked. The focus of the tour is based exclusively on your wishes and your questions can be specifically addressed. In addition, various special tours are possible, such as: deaf culture and history, contact and interaction with deaf people, the situation with interpreting, education & work, LGBTQI+, and much more.

An exclusive tour can be booked for a maximum of 15 people.

Information about Hands UP on Tour

Hands UP on Tour

HANDS UP is also mobile. We are travelling with the exhibition throughout Austria. For example, we were at the Old Town Hall in Linz as part of the Week of Linguistic Diversity. The city of Salzburg also invited the World of Silence to Mirabell Palace for a fortnight.

There was overwhelming interest in the exhibition
and all visitors were very impressed.

We were very impressed by this very clear and informative programme and especially by the excellent communication. Everyone was able to take something away with them. On behalf of all the pupils, a big thank you for a really successful project!

Thank you very much for that. I'm still impressed. And would definitely recommend it.

Thank you for being here!

Very friendly and pleasant atmosphere

Great exhibition.

I really enjoyed the exhibition and it opened my eyes to some of the difficulties faced by deaf people.

In the current Corona situation it was difficult to plan a trip to Vienna... ‘On Tour’ was really the best solution!

HANDS UP On Tour consists of flexible walls with illustrations and explanations, as well as interactive elements. There are also stand-up PCs showing various videos about the lives of deaf people, as well as sign language exercises. Technical aids for deaf people complement the exhibition.

Our deaf guides are the centrepiece of the exhibition and will guide you through their world.

Request an offer now

Press reviews

“Gehörlose präsentieren Alltag im ORF Vorarlberg” (11.2022)
“Sonderausstellung zum 50-Jahr-Jubiläum” ORF Burgenland (09.2022)
“Die Welt der Gehörlosen” ORF Kärnten (09.2022)
“Welt der Gehörlosen: Ausstellung sensibilisiert” ORF Salzburg (10.2021)
“Ausstellung im Schloss Mirabell zeigt die “Welt der Stille” Mein Bezirk Salzburg (10.2021)

Want more?

Tourplan

Information for families & private individuals

Family trips, Birthday gifts, Vouchers

Fancy something new?
Come together as a family or as friends and experience the people you know in a completely new way: Who has the best facial expressions and who understands each other’s body language? Is lip-reading easy or is it not? Of course, individuals are also very welcome here – we endeavour to group them together according to the motto: You can kick a ball against the wall on your own, but it makes more sense and is more fun in a group!

HANDS UP is suitable for all age groups, from 0 to 99, and makes a fabulous gift for loved ones in the form of vouchers and for all occasions.

There is no minimum amount of participants and up to 30 people can start at the same time. The tour lasts about 1 hour and we kindly request that you arrive approx. 10 minutes before the start.

equalizent

HANDS UP - Experience Silence. is operated by equalizent - Schulungs- und Beratungs GmbH.

equalizent is a company with many years of experience in deafness, sign language and diversity management that operates successfully. At the same time, it is important to equalizent to improve society through its activities.

equalizent works with partners in Germany and abroad to improve the situation of deaf and hearing-impaired people. As experts in deafness and diversity management, equalizent identifies gaps in the market and is constantly developing new, contemporary products.

equalizent is innovation! In addition to its tried-and-tested services, equalizent is also constantly breaking new ground.

Among other things, you can learn sign language at equalizent.

Deaf Museums

As part of the Erasmus+ project “Deaf Museums“, equalizent has created an online exhibition on the topic of ‘Social life and art in the Austrian deaf community’.

The online exhibition consists of posters on eight different topics. There are playlists with videos for each topic. The first video shows the content of the poster in ÖGS. The other videos in the playlist consist of interviews with members of the Austrian deaf community on the respective topic. The videos have German subtitles.

The materials of the “Deaf Museums” project can be used free of charge.