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Description
CIRCUS BASE is an extraordinary artistic and social event designed to present contemporary circus and its many disciplines to the general public in Prague and in one regional city, Chomutov. It will open its program in Prague in 10 days and in Chomutov for a total of 9 days. The project is a bilateral cooperation with a partner from the donor country, the Trondheim Kulturskole, which, like the Czech implementer, focuses its activities on education of all generations in circus pedagogy). Both partners connect established artists with the younger generation and thus develop contemporary circus in Norway and the Czech Republic.
The aim of the project is to create a cultural and artistic site which will be open, financially accessible and operational every day for a period of several weeks. It will serve as a creative laboratory for Czech and Norwegian artists and lecturers and facilitate their collaboration and development. It will provide a hub for circus (and other) artists from various generations. In addition to their function as an audience, the public will be invited to directly participate in courses and creative processes. The social and educational aspects of the project are key. The project has been developed as a socially inklusive undertaking. Project will take place in locations which are outside the centres, to be able to fully realize its potential and to deliver and facilitate new artistic experiences and opportunities for people who are in contact with novel artistic forms either seldom or not at all. Project aim is to attract and reach out to new admirers of contemporary circus and other artistic genres.
Summary of project results
The project raised awareness of the new circus and its potential use in overcoming socio-economic barriers. It allowed schoolchildren to experience an enrichment of their education and gave rise to new collaborations. New artistic projects were created, CZ and foreign artists were connected, and cultural exchange was essential for young artists. Challenges in implementation: the covid19 pandemic - changes in the project schedule; loss and change of NO partner, big increase in market prices.
The project promoted awareness of contemporary art and trends in the Czech New Circus; it disseminated experience of the potential social, educational and health roles of the New Circus. Especially in Chomutov, it significantly strengthened the audience base and started new partnerships, and had a significant socio-economic benefit. It promoted intergenerational connections and was inclusive towards the Roma population.
It has opened up Czech-Norwegian cultural Exchange.
The outcome of the project was the promotion of contemporary art through 292 public events. 13878 spectators and participants of all generations attended them. The activities led to new audiences and strengthened the relationship between cultural and educational orgs.
Furthermore, it supported the capacity development of cultural actors, involving a total of 67 people – 39 cultural workers and 28 artists.
5.-13.5.2023 Circus Base in Chomutov - this part of the project was crucial, as it was the first time that a new circus on such a large scale was exported beyond the borders of Prague. At the same time, the purpose was not only to show and implement the artistic program, but also to educate in the field of new circus and to show the overlapping methods used by new circus, the whole took place under very accessible conditions 20.5.-2.6.2023 Circus Base in Prague - allowed established and emerging artists to present their works to the public, implemented many workshops and workshops for schools, under accessible conditions 4.-8.6.2023 - teens from Cirqueon in Trondheim kulturskule - a very important cultural exchange for the emerging generation of circus artists, an opportunity to present their art abroad and strengthen the partnership between Cirqueon and Trondheim kulturskule.
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership cooperation was based mainly on the exchange of experience with new circus methods between Czech and Norwegian lecturers. Both organizations had the opportunity to directly involve several of their lecturers and students (aspiring artists and lecturers) in the direct implementation of events both on the Czech (Cirkus Base) and Norwegian side (anniversary celebrations of Trondheim Kulturskole). The Norwegian partner is also involved online in the realisation of a symposium for the Czech professional public in October 2023.The most important aspect of the partnership was the mutual sharing of experiences and the opportunity to learn about professional expertise in the field of new circus and to facilitate cultural exchange in both countries.In Chomutov (5-14 May 2023) 2 lecturers from Trondheim Kulturskole led workshops for the public and also provided pedagogical support together with CZ. On 7-10 May, the lecturers participated as site-specific artists in the Tumbleweeds project, which resulted in a public performance on Wednesday 10 May. 6 NO lecturers were actively involved in Prague (21-28 May 2023). Two of them led a week-long youth exchange. Four of them were part of a creative lab with CZ artists - there was also a joint site specific performance on 26/5/23. From 3.6.-9.6.23 3 performances by Czech teens artists took place as part of the anniversary celebration of Trondheim CirkusSchool, 8 CZ students, 3 CZ lecturers actively participated. The cooperation has undoubtedly led to increased understanding between Czech and Norwegian artists/lecturers/participants.A cooperation has been established which will definitely persist in the future, at least in sharing professional knowledge.