• Research Documents

    Social Circus – A Guide to Good Practices

    An extensive handbook for setting up and running social circus projects published by Finland's Centre for Practise as Research in Theatre.

    Arts Council England
    Research Area: Policy

    Following on from, and building on, an earlier snapshot survey this 2002 Arts Council England document formulates a strategy for supporting the development of England's nascent circus sector. The report gives an overview of circus' status within the funding system before 2002, and makes a number of key recommendations to improve access in the future by improving knowledge/expertise within ACE itself.

    Arts Council England
    Research Area: Data and Statistics, Policy

    An early piece of research from Arts Council England on the circus and street arts sectors, this document presents the results of an extensive survey that gathered information on: organisational status and staffing; size and source of income; network and organisation membership; performance activity and audiences; methods of promotion; education and outreach activity; and relationship with the funding system. Respondents were also invited to make suggestions for improvement.

    Street Arts Winter Academy: Education and Training in the Street Arts
    Research Area: Pedagogy and Training

    Published by Circostrada, this report collects the discussions to come out of the first Street Arts Winter Academy, a seminar held in Pokljuka, Slovenia to tackle the issue of education and training programs available for street artists.

    The Circulation of Street Arts and Circus Artworks in Europe
    Research Area: Data and Statistics

    A statistical measure of the health of circus and street arts companies in Europe, gathering quantitative and qualitative information on funding, staffing, dissemination, etcetera. A follow-up study was published in 2011 to measure the impact of the global financial crisis.

    The Circulation of Street Arts and Circus Artworks in Europe – 2011
    Research Area: Data and Statistics

    Following on from a previous study conducted in 2006 that took a statistical measure of the health of 66 circus and street arts companies (annual income, number of employees, level of subsidy, etcetera), The Circulation of Street Arts and Circus Artworks in Europe – 2011 collects the same quantitative data from some of the same companies (21 had either closed down or didn't reply) to get an idea of how their situations have changed in light of the global economic crisis. The years compared are 2006 and 2010.

    The Circus Artist Today: Analysis of the Key Competencies

    Written by the researcher Pascal Jacob and published by FEDEC, this PDF guide questions the goals of circus training and the needs of artists.

    As part of the European residency project Unpack the Arts, ten cultural journalists visited CIRCa Festival in Auch 31 October - 3 November 2012 to encounter (in some cases for the first time) the many faces of contemporary circus.

    La Meute | Photo: Queralt Vinyoli

    As part of the European residency project Unpack the Arts, ten cultural journalists visited Circusstad in Rotterdam 1-5 May 2013 to encounter (in some cases for the first time) the many faces of contemporary circus.

    Jay Gilligan, Prototype | Photo: Frida Flodin

    As part of the European residency project Unpack the Arts, ten cultural journalists visited Cirko Festival in Helsinki 8-12 May 2013 to encounter (in some cases for the first time) the many faces of contemporary circus.

    As part of the European residency project Unpack the Arts, ten cultural journalists visited Festival Novog Cirkusa in Zagreb 8-11 November 2012 to encounter (in some cases for the first time) the many faces of contemporary circus.

    David Dimitri, L'homme Cirque | Photo: Raoul Gilbert

    As part of the European residency project Unpack the Arts, ten cultural journalists visited two festivals in Belgium, Hors Pistes & La Piste aux Espoirs, 28 February - 3 March 2013 to encounter (in some cases for the first time) the many faces of contemporary circus.

    Unpack the Arts: Humorologie, Belgium

    As part of the European residency project Unpack the Arts, ten cultural journalists visited Humorologie festival in Kortrijk-Marke, Belgium 27-30 June 2013 to encounter (in some cases for the first time) the many faces of contemporary circus.

    As part of the European residency project Unpack the Arts, ten cultural journalists visited the Ny Circus Festival in Copenhagen 15-18 August 2012 to encounter (in some cases for the first time) the many faces of contemporary circus. Seeing four shows – GLiMT's Er du os?, La Meute's Tragédie Grecque, Cie Un loup pour l'homme's Face Nord, and Subliminati Corporation's #File_Tone – and interviewing the artists after their performances, the journalists then wrote the articles collected here – published in the original language and in English translation.

    Cirkus Cirkör, Knitting Peace | Photo: Mats Bäcker

    As part of the European residency project Unpack the Arts, ten cultural journalists visited Subcase in Stockholm 13-16 February 2013 to encounter (in some cases for the first time) the many faces of contemporary circus. Seeing five shows – Los Galindos' Maiurta, Chipmunk Forge's Phågel, Ruby Rose's EAT IT!, Patrik and Wes' Between Someonesons and Cirkus Cirkör's Knitting Peace – and interviewing the artists after their performances, the journalists then wrote the articles collected here – published in the original language and in English translation.

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