A Creative & Cultural studio
A Creative & Cultural studio
Designed with vision.
Rooted in human connection.
Uplifted by underrepresented communities.
What We Do
CONNECT
Build partnerships for the success of your vision
Find the exact resources and referrals you need
COLLABORATE
CURATE
CREATE
What We Do
CONNECT
Build partnerships for the success of your vision
Find the exact resources and referrals you need
COLLABORATE
Approach accessibility with our cultural and disability lens
Work together as a team to achieve your goals
CURATE
Promote products and events we love
Seek talent, networks, and artists to unite forces
CREATE
Design events and experiences your audiences will remember
Make significant visions come to life, bridging cultural and generational divides
What We Do
CONNECT
Build partnerships for the success of your vision
Find the exact resources and referrals you need
COLLABORATE
Approach accessibility with our cultural and disability lens
Work together as a team to achieve your goals
CURATE
Promote products and events we love
Seek talent, networks, and artists to unite forces
CREATE
Design events and experiences your audiences will remember
Make significant visions come to life, bridging cultural and generational divides
Why Matanah?
Matanah (gift, in Hebrew) is a Jewish and Deaf-led cultural experience studio. We design access-centered events, strategies, and gifts that make culture feel truly welcoming for Deaf and overlooked communities, while inviting wider audiences to join in. From local gatherings and community fundraisers to film, theatre, and curated products, we partner with organizations, artists, entrepreneurs, and hosts across the United States and beyond to create spaces where access, art, and community meet.
Community creates culture
Shelly Guy & Sofia Seitchik
Matanah
Why Matanah?
Matanah (gift, in Hebrew) is a Jewish and Deaf-led cultural experience studio. We design access-centered events, strategies, and gifts that make culture feel truly welcoming for Deaf and overlooked communities, while inviting wider audiences to join in. From local gatherings and community fundraisers to film, theatre, and curated products, we partner with organizations, artists, entrepreneurs, and hosts across the United States and beyond to create spaces where access, art, and community meet.
Community creates culture
Shelly Guy & Sofia Seitchik
Matanah
Why Matanah?
Matanah (gift, in Hebrew) is a Jewish and Deaf-led cultural experience studio. We design access-centered events, strategies, and gifts that make culture feel truly welcoming for Deaf and overlooked communities, while inviting wider audiences to join in. From local gatherings and community fundraisers to film, theatre, and curated products, we partner with organizations, artists, entrepreneurs, and hosts across the United States and beyond to create spaces where access, art, and community meet.
Community creates culture
Shelly Guy & Sofia Seitchik
Matanah
Why we chose the name Matanah
Matanah means "gift" in Hebrew.
A gift is only an object.
A gift can be attention, presence, or a moment created with intention.
In Jewish tradition, a matanah is something offered with heart.
It carries care.
It carries meaning.
It carries connection.
This is how we view our work.
Culture can be a gift.
Access can be a gift.
Community can be a gift.
Our Deaf perspective is also a gift.
It brings clarity and visual depth.
It brings attention to detail.
It invites people in.
Matanah reflects our belief that every gathering, story, and experience can be created as a gift to the people who show up.
Why we chose the name Matanah
Matanah means "gift" in Hebrew.
A gift is only an object.
A gift can be attention, presence, or a moment created with intention.
In Jewish tradition, a matanah is something offered with heart.
It carries care.
It carries meaning.
It carries connection.
This is how we view our work.
Culture can be a gift.
Access can be a gift.
Community can be a gift.
Our Deaf perspective is also a gift.
It brings clarity and visual depth.
It brings attention to detail.
It invites people in.
Matanah reflects our belief that every gathering, story, and experience can be created as a gift to the people who show up.
Why we chose the name Matanah
Matanah means "gift" in Hebrew.
A gift is only an object.
A gift can be attention, presence, or a moment created with intention.
In Jewish tradition, a matanah is something offered with heart.
It carries care.
It carries meaning.
It carries connection.
This is how we view our work.
Culture can be a gift.
Access can be a gift.
Community can be a gift.
Our Deaf perspective is also a gift.
It brings clarity and visual depth.
It brings attention to detail.
It invites people in.
Matanah reflects our belief that every gathering, story, and experience can be created as a gift to the people who show up.
Our Founders
Shelly Guy
Co-Founder
Shelly Guy is a Jewish Deaf artist, creative director and cultural producer known for visual storytelling, movement intelligence and emotionally grounded design. Her work spans theatre, film, experiential access, performance, ASL consultancy, artistic coaching and community programs. She has collaborated with theaters, festivals, cultural institutions, filmmakers, synagogues and nonprofit partners to create experiences shaped by clarity, intention and lived cultural insight. At Matanah, Shelly leads creative direction by shaping the look, feel and sensory journey of events and collaborations. She brings artistry, emotional clarity and deep understanding of how people connect across communication styles.
Shelly Guy
Co-Founder
Shelly Guy is a Jewish Deaf artist, creative director and cultural producer known for visual storytelling, movement intelligence and emotionally grounded design. Her work spans theatre, film, experiential access, performance, ASL consultancy, artistic coaching and community programs. She has collaborated with theaters, festivals, cultural institutions, filmmakers, synagogues and nonprofit partners to create experiences shaped by clarity, intention and lived cultural insight. At Matanah, Shelly leads creative direction by shaping the look, feel and sensory journey of events and collaborations. She brings artistry, emotional clarity and deep understanding of how people connect across communication styles.
Shelly Guy
Co-Founder
Shelly Guy is a Jewish Deaf artist, creative director and cultural producer known for visual storytelling, movement intelligence and emotionally grounded design. Her work spans theatre, film, experiential access, performance, ASL consultancy, artistic coaching and community programs. She has collaborated with theaters, festivals, cultural institutions, filmmakers, synagogues and nonprofit partners to create experiences shaped by clarity, intention and lived cultural insight. At Matanah, Shelly leads creative direction by shaping the look, feel and sensory journey of events and collaborations. She brings artistry, emotional clarity and deep understanding of how people connect across communication styles.
Sofia Seitchik
Co-Founder
Sofia is a Jewish Deaf entrepreneur, storyteller and community leader. She is the founder of Global Deaf Women, author of an award-winning book "The Light of Deaf Women", and a longtime organizer of Jewish and Deaf community programs, retreats, conferences and creative initiatives. Her background spans entrepreneurship, coaching, fundraising, cultural programming, community organizing and large-scale production. Sofia has a gift for building structures where people feel seen and supported. At Matanah, Sofia leads strategy and partnerships — ensuring that every product, collaboration and experience reflects heart, purpose and cultural depth.
Sofia Seitchik
Co-Founder
Sofia is a Jewish Deaf entrepreneur, storyteller and community leader. She is the founder of Global Deaf Women, author of an award-winning book "The Light of Deaf Women", and a longtime organizer of Jewish and Deaf community programs, retreats, conferences and creative initiatives. Her background spans entrepreneurship, coaching, fundraising, cultural programming, community organizing and large-scale production. Sofia has a gift for building structures where people feel seen and supported. At Matanah, Sofia leads strategy and partnerships — ensuring that every product, collaboration and experience reflects heart, purpose and cultural depth.
Sofia Seitchik
Co-Founder
Sofia is a Deaf Jewish entrepreneur, storyteller and community leader. She is the founder of Global Deaf Women, creator of The Light of Deaf Women, and a longtime organizer of Jewish and Deaf community programs, retreats, conferences and creative initiatives. Her background spans entrepreneurship, coaching, fundraising, cultural programming, community organizing and large-scale production. Sofia has a gift for building structures where people feel seen and supported. At Matanah, Sofia leads strategy and partnerships — ensuring that every product, collaboration and experience reflects heart, purpose and cultural depth
TESTIMONIALS
Understanding, Patient and Encouraging
Shelly is understanding, patient and encouraging. I appreciated how she tailored the lessons to my way of learning, leaning into my strengths in order to overcome my weaknesses. Her wonderful personality is an added bonus.”
Ava DuVernay
Filmmaker
Understanding, Patient and Encouraging
Shelly is understanding, patient and encouraging. I appreciated how she tailored the lessons to my way of learning, leaning into my strengths in order to overcome my weaknesses. Her wonderful personality is an added bonus.”
Ava DuVernay
Filmmaker
Understanding, Patient and Encouraging
Shelly is understanding, patient and encouraging. I appreciated how she tailored the lessons to my way of learning, leaning into my strengths in order to overcome my weaknesses. Her wonderful personality is an added bonus.”
Ava DuVernay
Filmmaker
I finally knew how to design my life
Their workshop has provided inspired guide and wonderful insights to help me reanalyzing my life and starting to make changes right afterward. After I started to pick up my way where I wanted to be, I didn't realize that I finally knew how to design my life and even I have the ability to control my life, too!
Christine Beattie
Workshop Attendee
I finally knew how to design my life
Their workshop has provided inspired guide and wonderful insights to help me reanalyzing my life and starting to make changes right afterward. After I started to pick up my way where I wanted to be, I didn't realize that I finally knew how to design my life and even I have the ability to control my life, too!
Christine Beattie
Workshop Attendee
I finally knew how to design my life
Their workshop has provided inspired guide and wonderful insights to help me reanalyzing my life and starting to make changes right afterward. After I started to pick up my way where I wanted to be, I didn't realize that I finally knew how to design my life and even I have the ability to control my life, too!
Christine Beattie
Workshop Attendee
A shared vision, bringing it to life
Sofia sets the vibe, sparks momentum, and anchors the Jewish Deaf community with heart. She turns passion into impact, creating waves that reach far and wide. Working alongside her seals the deal on a shared vision, bringing it to life.
Marla Berkowitz
Past President, Jewish Deaf Congress
A shared vision, bringing it to life
Sofia sets the vibe, sparks momentum, and anchors the Jewish Deaf community with heart. She turns passion into impact, creating waves that reach far and wide. Working alongside her seals the deal on a shared vision, bringing it to life.
Marla Berkowitz
Past President, Jewish Deaf Congress
A shared vision, bringing it to life
Sofia sets the vibe, sparks momentum, and anchors the Jewish Deaf community with heart. She turns passion into impact, creating waves that reach far and wide. Working alongside her seals the deal on a shared vision, bringing it to life.
Marla Berkowitz
Past President, Jewish Deaf Congress
Delivers a flawless product effortlessly.
Shelly is to date the most incredible partner I’ve worked with to bring productions to life. Not only does she understand how demanding events and producing can be, she delivers a flawless product effortlessly. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her in any capacity. She is thorough, committed and never ceases to impress.
Grey Van Pelt
Flamingo Interpreting
Delivers a flawless product effortlessly.
Shelly is to date the most incredible partner I’ve worked with to bring productions to life. Not only does she understand how demanding events and producing can be, she delivers a flawless product effortlessly. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her in any capacity. She is thorough, committed and never ceases to impress.
Grey Van Pelt
Flamingo Interpreting
Delivers a flawless product effortlessly.
Shelly is to date the most incredible partner I’ve worked with to bring productions to life. Not only does she understand how demanding events and producing can be, she delivers a flawless product effortlessly. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her in any capacity. She is thorough, committed and never ceases to impress.
Grey Van Pelt
Flamingo Interpreting
Let's find a time to meet
All ideas gaining traction with a conversation. Book a meeting with us today.
Book a Appointment
Send us a message
Let's find a time to meet
All ideas gaining traction with a conversation. Book a meeting with us today.
Book a Appointment
Send us a message
Let's find a time to meet
All ideas gaining traction with a conversation. Book a meeting with us today.
Book a Appointment