Acclaimed actor Bernard Bragg, a founder of the National Theater of the Deaf (NTD), has laid the foundation for an endowment at California State University Northridge (CSUN) to support the exploration of the arts in the deaf community.
Bragg will bequeath a portion of his estate, upon his demise, to the Department of Deaf Studies in CSUN’s Michael D. Eisner College of Education for the creation of the Bernard Bragg Deaf Theatre, Signed Arts and Deaf Cinema Endowment. The gift, currently valued at about $200,000, will provide opportunities for faculty and students to study, participate in and contribute to the success of deaf theatre, signed arts and deaf cinema in the United States and internationally.
“The essence of Bernard Bragg’s bequest to the deaf studies department is to ensure that deaf theatre, signed arts and deaf cinema will never be forgotten. He simply wants to see that there will be more and more opportunities for such activities,” said department chair Lawrence Fleischer. “Bernard’s endowment makes it possible for deaf community members on national and international levels to get together and enjoy deaf arts-related projects.”
Bragg, a longtime instructor at CSUN, has taught American Sign Language/deaf theatre courses and has directed plays at the university, including “To Whom It May Concern,” “Laugh Properly, Please,” and “Truly Deaf.”
He said he decided to make the bequest to the university because “I wish to see deaf people in theatre and film around the world continue to upgrade the quality of their works.”
“By exposing their work to others as well as being exposed to others’ work, theatre people and filmmakers of the deaf world are thus able to see where they stand and how they can improve their theatres and films,” he said. “That is not to say that the deaf theatres and films in these countries aim to bring about social change. Presenting deaf theatre and film as an art form is their primary intent, although it may secondarily play a critical part in helping enhance the image of deaf people. Through their dedication, deaf theatre and film groups around the world have made significant and impressive contributions not only to their own deaf communities but also to the general cultural life of the societies in which they live.”
“CSUN’s deaf studies is deeply honored to serve a legendary figure in the deaf world by becoming a ‘torchbearer’ of the Bernard Bragg Deaf Theatre, Signed Arts and Deaf Cinema Endowment,” Fleischer said.
CSUN is one of only three institutions in the nation that offers a comprehensive undergraduate program in the area of deaf studies. It is designed to provide appropriate exposure and preparation for persons interested in professional careers as sign language interpreters, sign language instructors, counselors, government specialists, audiologists, speech pathologists, program administrators, community service personnel, and many other deaf-related vocations.
