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 16