Ideas of Inclusion – Capacity Building in Youth Circus Erasmus Project

Project Title

Ideas of Inclusion – Capacity Building in Youth Circus

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Partnerships for Creativity

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Pedagogy and didactics; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

The project focuses on creating social inclusion through arts, circus in this project. The aim is to create materials and a training for circus teachers who work continuously with young people but may not have an education of youth work. The project gives circus teachers an understanding of what it feels like to be excluded and how they can promote a safe and welcoming learning environment for young people of all backgrounds. The project increases knowledge of best practices that allow a diverse young people to take part in circus activities.

The project is a cooperation between six European partners who work in the field of youth circus in the national or European level.

In the first part of the project, a group of experts creates a model training of 1/2-1 day that helps circus teacher to recognize their role in creating social inclusion and how different ways of speaking or acting can increase or decrease it. The expert group consists of 5-8 people. If possible, they meet to create the model, but it is also possible that they work virtually.

Second part of the project is organizing a training for trainers. 2 trainers per partner take part. The trainers make a short text, video or blog, or similar, about their experience that can be shared.

Third part is bring the training to national level where the training module is tested. These trainings are for approximately 15-20 people each. 1-3 trainings can be organized by each partner and this is done through multiplier events. The partners make sure that from each training event at least three participants share their experience / thoughts on the training in a form that can be used in the communications of the project (e.g. blog, video, etc.)

After the multiplier events the trainers share their feedback from the trainings to the expert group. If needed, the expert group can still modify the training, or create some extra materials.

Partners meet during the project in face-to-face meetings as well as shorter virtual meetings.

As research has shown that circus as a creative art form is a great tool of empowerment and increasing social confidence and skills, the project aims to making circus inclusive for everyone, including young people belonging to any minorities. Through the trainings and the training materials more circus teachers are capable of supporting young people and aware of what creates a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 115632 Eur

Project Coordinator

Suomen Nuorisosirkusliitto ry & Country: FI

Project Partners

• Federacion Española de Escuelas de Circo Socio Educativo
• Slovensko zdruzenje za cirkusko pedagogiko – Cirkokrog
• UK YOUTH CIRCUS NETWORK
• EUROPEAN YOUTH CIRCUS ORGANISATION
• BAG-Zirkuspädagogik