CIRCUS LOOPS

forthcoming

CIRCUS LOOPS initiates the development of a much-needed audience feedback method for contemporary circus. Seeing circus as a language for communicating with the audience, we want to strengthen the dialogue between circus authors and the audience. Through this dialogue we enrich the creation process and at the same time provide the audience with valuable insights into a circus creation. The project partners, Circusstad Festival (NL), Cirkus Kolektiv (HR) and Zirkus ON (D) host residencies across Europe and support the creation of three new circus performances over two years. The approach centralises audience interaction through work-in-progress presentations, which are particularly influential in circus creation compared to other performance art forms. The partners will select three circus creations via an open call for emerging circus artists. The project revolves around a collaborative artist-in-residence program designed to nurture the artistic development of contemporary circus authors. At the heart of this program lies the belief that artistic growth thrives through thoughtful engagement with audiences. Therefore, linear with the creation, we develop a feedback methodology to connect the artist's vision to the reception of the audience. The program involves innovative feedback sessions at various stages of creation. Diverse audience segments are offered valuable insights in the artistic process and become crucial collaborators. The artists will connect to audiences from three different countries and cultural backgrounds, which will feed their artistic creation process and foster the possibility to perform in different countries. The authors can build on the broad network of the three partners, kickstarting their international touring opportunities. The new feedback method will be distributed in the European networks of the partners and international networks such as Circostrada.