Short descriptions of national Umbrella's
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 May 2013 11:35
Youth Circusses in several European countries decided to start and support a National Umbrella in their country. There is quite some difference in size and the way those national umbrellas are organised in the different European countries. Below you'll find a brief description.
Austria: Österreichischer Bundesverband für Zirkuspädagogik - ÖBVZ
The Federal Association for Circus Pedagogy "Österreichischer Bundesverband für Zirkuspädagogik - ÖBVZ“ is a network of circus schools, regional associations and circus teachers. It was founded in 2012 in Vienna and currently has 15 members in 6 of the 9 federal states of Austria.
The purpose of the association is:
- to promote circus educational theories
- to support the pedagogical work of circus schools and teachers
- to offer a place for networking
- to develop common projects
- to advocate circus as an independent art form
The Federal Association for Circus Pedagogy "ÖBVZ“ is composed of a board of directors and of an educational committee. Both instances are elected at the general annual assembly. You can find more information on:
Belgium: (Flemisch part) Circuscentrum
The Flemish Centre for Circus Arts is the hub of circus in Flanders. It contributes in every respect to the development and quality of the Flemish circus arts.
The Circuscentrum is both a knowledge hub and an anchor for all circus arts in Flanders. Circus artists - amateurs or professionals, the general public and organizers from different sectors can call on Circuscentrum. It aims at optimal development opportunities and a public acceptance of the culture of circus arts.
The field of youth circuses forms an important bases for the circus scenery in Flanders. The Circuscentre supports a network of 19 member youth circuses.
One of the main objectives is to initiate training and exchanging for quality improvement.
Other supporting measures such as: to create playing opportunities for the youth circuses, lending service for circus material, organisation and developing support (accountancy, legislation information, financial support, etc.).
Belgium (French part): Maison du Cirque
Why a network?
A etwork could put an end on end isolation that can be felt by schools trainers. To be organised in a network could allow schools to be better represented on a national as well as international level. opportunity to grab: The Maison du Cirque helps the creation of such a network by making available its staff.
Activities and tools to set up: organisation of technical improvement workshops for pupils in specific fields, organisation of workshops at the "ESAC" for pupils who would like to prepare the entrance examination, common schedule with activities that can interest the network (improvement workshops, conventions, shows), meeting / exchanges between trainers about specifics thematic, retraining courses for coordinators. Sharing contacts and information (research of coordinators, loan of equipments, requests of courses…)
Denmark: Dubal
The Danish umbrella organisation started in 2007. The first initiative for the Danish umbrella organisation origin from the circus teachers who have visited the NICE meetings and were working together during the European circus camp organized by www.circuscamp.eu. Now Dubal represents 10 circus schools and about 300 individual members in Denmark. It aims to develop children and young people’s self-confidence, creativity, interpersonal skills and respect for their fellow man.
Finland: Finnish Youth Circus Association
The Finnish Youth Circus Association, aka FYCA, was founded in 1991 when circus clubs and schools around Finland came together. The FYCA organizes educational courses, events, festivals, summer camps and competitions for its members. In addition FYCA’s goal is to make circus known as a hobby as well as to give better chance for Finnish children and youth to take part in circus activities. One of the important goals is to develop the level of education in youth circuses in Finland. The FYCA also keeps in contact with similar organizations internationally.
France: Fédération Française des Ecoles de Cirque
The « Fédération Française des Ecoles de Cirque » (FFEC) is a network of circus schools. It was founded in 1988 and currently has 130 members located all around France.
The organisation works in collaboration with varied partners (public Departments, culture professionals, circus schools…) so as to provide a high-quality circus training. The FFEC bases its quality on the founding precept “circus is an art, which is taught in respect for oneself and others”. It is about, for the Federation, to obtain guaranties in the field of health, security, pedagogy, training, administrative functioning, conditions of practice (place, materials,…) and link with artistic. In addition, the Federation takes an active part as well in the structuring of diploma for circus arts teachers (at first an intern diploma, as there were no national diploma, and secondly the Federation joined the creation of two national diplomas).
Germany: BAG Zirkuspädagogik
The Federal Association of Circus Education „BAG Zirkuspädagogik.“ is a network of circus school, regional associations and circus teachers. It was founded 2005 in Berlin and currently has 115 members in 15 of the 16 federal states of Germany.
The purpose of the association is the support of the circus educational theory, in particular in child help, youth welfare and youth education, the adult's education and the support of circus as an independent art form.
The statue purpose is to improve the work of the circus schools and the circus teachers.
The BAG develops standards of the formation of circus teachers and animators.
The Federal Association of Circus Educational Theory „BAG Zirkuspädagogik“ is subdivided in the board of directors and the educational committee, elected by the annual general membership meeting and as well as the different study groups.
Italy: Giocolieri e Dintorni
Associazione Giocolieri e Dintorni, founded in 2002, works as a national umbrella association for promoting contemporary circus art and youth circus projects in Italy. Together with publishing and distributing the quarterly Juggling Magazine, it has been specifically taking care of promoting youth circus through:
- gaining istitutional recognition from the Italian Ministry of Culture
- printing and distributing publications specifically dealing with youth circus
- holding entry level stages for youth circus teachers
- organizing annual national meetings for youth circus teachers
- networking of all national youth circus schools and teachers
- starting an advanced training for youth circus teachers since 2006
- starting a professional course at University for youth circus trainers since 2009
- organizing a European seminar in Italy dealing with social circus issues
- representing the Italian field in NICE and EYCO
more information about us and our activities on this section of our website http://www.jugglingmagazine.it
Netherlands: Circomundo
Circomundo is the interest group of the Youth Circuses in the Netherlands and aims to profile the sector through:
- Advocacy
- Quality Development
- Providing a consultative structure
The youth circus field in the Netherlands is very diverse. Circomundo endorses this diversity and stimulates maintaining the own signature and ways of working. Circomundo is focused on support, improvement of quality and profiling itself as the representing body in the Netherlands. Circomundo does not see itself as a controlling organization.
Circomundo encourages collaboration among Youth Circuses themselves and Youth Circus and the circus field, other performing art forms and other appropriate organizations in the field of Youth Circus. More specific we see the following groups as our target groups:
- Circus trainers, teachers, coaches, game leaders and directors that focus on youth circus, circus and circus in general
- Young amateur and (semi-) professional circus artists
- Artists who present themselves with associated techniques of circus arts in the street, in a circus or other stages.
- Organizations for youth circus, and educational and cultural institutions that organize circus activities.
Circomundo as umbrella organization was founded in 2002 and currently has 22 Dutch Youth Circuses as members. Furthermore it has about 10 other member organizations affiliated with circus activities.
On an international level Circomundo contributes to the exchange and development of the youth circus through participation in the Network for International Circus Exchange NICE and as a partner in the European Youth Circus Organization, EYCO.
More information can be found at: www.circomundo.nl
Spain
First of all the Spain umbrella, that is in progress, has set up a Circus website (http://circored.blogspot.com) of the different Associations in order to exchange information of the different projects (events, workshops, meetings, Festivals,…) and to make a real idea of what they have in hands. Future activities could be: Youth Circus Exchanges between schools; Training for trainers, pedagogical tools; European Voluntary Service; Assessment in managing and funding; National meeting for developing the website and its organisation.
United Kingdom
A UK Umbrella would mean benefits for: Improving opportunities for young people to participate in leading and influencing the decision making process
Building stronger links between youth circus organisations in the UK, open and meaningful dialogue about how to strengthen the UK youth circus sector, strong representation of UK youth circus in Europe, exchange skills: management, training, networking, EVS, job shadowing, establish circus in the curriculum
There will be an opportunity to have another open discussion at the national event in Blackpool in February 2010.