insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 21 - November 2016 | Page 16
ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
A R T S A N D E N T E R TA I N M E N T C H A R I T Y P R O F I L E :
THE CIRCUS PROJECT
A charity since 2004, The Circus Project is a unique circus arts facility that attracts and
engages a range of people from the wider Brighton & Hove community, from young
individuals to professional circus companies, artists and aerialists. They do this by running
classes and workshops, encouraging and supporting new ideas, and by working in
contemporary circus to produce shows and cabarets to showcase the talents of their students.
We had a chat with artistic director and head instructor, Vicki McManus, to find out more.
Hi Vicki. What is it that The Circus Project
does exactly?
The Circus Project runs an extremely popular
Youth Circus Programme for children aged 7+
throughout term time, weekly adult classes
for 18+, and many social circus projects that
are open to the community. Students have
the opportunity to explore a range of aerial
equipment including trapeze, rope, hoop and
silks, as well as ground-based activities. We are
particularly interested in raising the standard of
youth circus, nurturing talent and encouraging
innovation and excellence. Our classes are fun,
friendly and non-competitive, as we encourage
everyone to support and help each other.
What makes you unique?
I’ve witnessed firsthand the positive effect that
circus arts have on an individual, whether they
are watching as a member of an audience,
or participating in circus training. It boosts
confidence, encourages risk taking in a safe
environment, and it gives a sense of personal
achievement and belonging. The Circus
Project is Brighton & Hove’s foremost circus
training facility, and we aim to foster these and
the many more positive outcomes of circus
practice within our community.
How many people have you helped over
the years?
Every week we are in contact with over 100
local people, children and adults. This doesn’t
include our outreach projects, however, such
as ‘Project 5000’, a project funded by the
NHS Innovation Fund in which we delivered a
10-week deaf and disabled adapted yoga and
aerial circus training course for adults.
to pursue a career in the circus world; to be a
model of good practise and artistic excellence
within the sector nationally; to encourage
collaborations and cross-art partnerships; to
exploit the use of circus as a tool for helping
people who are having a difficult time in their
lives; and to be instrumental and truly active in
developing contemporary circuses regionally
and nationally.
We aspire to create more opportunities for
marginalised groups to engage with circus. For
this we rely on funding, volunteers and donations.
Our ambition is to have a dedicated circus facility
in Brighton so we can accommodate many more
projects such as these.
How do you raise money, and do you have
any upcoming events that our readers can
join in with?
Our day-to-day running costs are met by the
fees from the classes that we run throughout
the year and the sale of our merchandise,
t-shirts and hoodies with our logo on. This
generates a small profit that goes back into
our outreach projects. We also do fundraising
events our next one is on Saturday December
3rd, when we will be opening the doors of The
Circus Project at Hangleton Community Centre
and inviting the public to come and take part
in circus skills workshops, as well as watch
our youth and adult students performing their
amazing aerial skills. There will be food, drinks,
Funk the Format DJ, Lucy ‘Elle J’ Small, a raffle
with fantastic prices, and lots of laughs.
What are your main aims and objectives?
To create work that inspires, delights the heart
and challenges the idea of what circus can
be; to trigger new ideas and generate new
perspectives in contemporary circus; to help
artists through the provision of resources,
advice, practical support, and opportunities
to showcase and network; to provide high
quality circus arts classes and workshops
suitable for all ages and abilities; to nurture
young talent and help young people who wish
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