Hearing mothers crafted ‘A Lullaby for Derby’—recorded in audio and British Sign Language.
DERBY EVALUATION 2025
Nightlight Lullabies created impact at personal, institutional and historical levels.
Volunteers reconsidered whose voices count as heritage, while young deaf participants developed transferable communication skills, expanded their career aspirations and grew in confidence. For some, the experience reshaped how they saw their own futures — including the possibility of becoming successful parents.
The project also influenced institutional change, with the museum rethinking gallery spaces to be more family-friendly and committing to future co-created work.
Importantly, stories from communities long under-represented in historical records are now permanently archived. This was made possible through genuine co-design, with a deaf consultant holding real authority to shape decisions and delivery.
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41
Deaf students and parents developed ‘The Signing Mother,’ a Visual Vernacular film.
16
Deaf young people and ten museum volunteers trained as oral and video historians, learning that their own stories constitute heritage worth preserving.
6096
Visitors to our exhibition at Derby Museum and Art Gallery.
75,000
Total views, plays, and interactions across social media with our work.
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Oral Histories recorded.
46% of participants and 63% of volunteers indentified as D/deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent; 57% of staff identify similarly; 56% of participants identify as global majority.
These represent a fundamental shift in who gets to tell stories about heritage.
Photo by Rosie Powell
“Now I’ve done this, I’d like to meet more deaf people. This session has helped me improve my communication skills and ask people questions, and to bond with people by communicating with them.”
Video history training participant
“Murmuration deserves immense credit for taking the initiative to create this project and bring so many voices together. They have built more than just an exhibition — they have created a space for empathy, connection, and celebration of every family’s story.”
Oral history interviewee
“The workshops were such a success—students were buzzing all day yesterday and today! Thank you so much for coming in and working with them. We truly appreciate it!”
BSL Lead at The Royal School for the Deaf Derby
“Listening to the lullaby, being able to pick out who said what, when, and what the reference was feels so special and hopefully something I can share with my little boy for years to come.”
A Lullaby For Derby workshop participant
“It’s been it’s been absolutely fantastic….we saw Nightlight Lullabies as an opportunity to engage with so many different audiences that might not normally come and visit the museum. It’s made us look at the space and how we can use it. People do need areas that are soft and playful, and where you can take time to reflect and relax.”
Janine Derbyshire
Head of Exhibitions and Events, Derby Museums Trust
Photo by Rosie Powell
