The circus, a stepping stone for inclusion and citizenship

On 19 September, the Brussels-Capital Region (BRC), Île-de-France Europe and the General delegation of Québec in Brussels paid tribute to the social circus during a day focussing on “Circus, Inclusion and Citizenship” organised in partnership with the World’s Smallest Circus, Cirque du Soleil and the Brussels Circus School, which hosted the event.   Social circus uses the circus arts practice for purposes of integration and social inclusion and is aimed at target groups from disadvantaged neighbourhoods. With this initiative the circus partners and their partners of the Caravan Circus Network presented the concept of social circus and the activities organised in this framework throughout Europe. This was a perfect opportunity to show the positive results that were obtained with projects that were co-funded by the European Union through the Leonardo and Culture and Youth in Action programmes. A first round-table discussed the emergence of the new profession of social circus counsellor, based on the presentation of the Leonardo project, Circus Trans Formation, which has been implemented by eight circus schools. The project aims to establish a framework for the first European training programme for social circus counsellors. Representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the three partner regions explained why and how they encourage these projects. They also presented the support given by the European Union, more specifically through the Erasmus+ programme, the creation of new partnerships between educational establishments, businesses and civil society as well as the introduction of new training programmes.   Circus art and hip hop The second roundtable focused on the existing links between practicing art, social inclusion and citizenship with the presentation of the Hip Cirq Europ’ project, which received support from the European Union’s Culture Programme and which aims to recognise emerging cultures and help new artists. Combining circus arts with emerging cultures such as hip-hop this project has allowed young talented artists from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in six Member States to exchange experiences and create a show together. The day ended with a public general rehearsal of the Hip Cirq Europ’ spectacle, which went on tour in Brussels. Dance, juggling, human pyramids, an act with a gigantic wheel, the incredible grace of a young artist… A magical show which everyone should see! Further reading (in French): an article from the Île-de-France Region about the circus days, inclusion and citizenship