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The IAM Research lab is dedicated to advancing Inclusive Arts and Media in Malta through pioneering projects. Inspired by the vision of creating shareable, inclusive cultural heritage spaces and media experiences, these projects aim to transform accessibility and inclusivity in the arts and media landscape. The research lab seeks to enhance accessibility for blind and partially sighted individuals, as well as for the deaf and hard of hearing, in media, theatre, museums, and heritage sites. Additionally, it aims to make language content accessible to both Maltese and non-Maltese speakers. This is achieved through targeted localization and accessibility strategies, including inclusive subtitles, audio descriptions, and accessible filmmaking techniques. Regarding research output, IAM Research Lab focuses on developing research-based local guidelines for stakeholders and practitioners.
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The IAM Research Lab is affiliated with the University of Malta, Department of Translation, Terminology and Interpreting Studies, Faculty of Arts, Malta.
Research Lab Founder, Principal Investigator & Project Lead: Dr Giselle Spiteri Miggiani (University of Malta), giselle.spiteri-miggiani@um.edu.mt
Achievements & impact checklist:
1. Set up a postgraduate specialisation stream at the University of Malta.
Aim: to create a pool of skilled professionals (Running since October 2018, to-date approximately 37 trained AV translators, locally)
2. Continuous liaison with local stakeholders to raise awareness, set up pilot projects, establish a new professional practice and develop a new media access sector.
Aim: to enable the availability of newly trained resources and to trigger a new market demand.
3. Ongoing applied and experimental user-centred research to identify local potential demands, norms, strategies, user preferences.
Aim: to develop language and culture-specific guidelines.
4. Impact projects such as inclusive audio descriptive museum guides for local heritage and cultural sites & inclusive subtitles for local productions
For more info on the Master in Translation and Terminology and the audiovisual translation specialisation at the University of Malta, click here.