Qualitative research on the challenges and opportunities of spaces for creation, training, residency, and presentation of circus in the area of Flanders/Brussels, as part of the mapping of the circus infrastructure done by Circuscentrum.
Circus, with its dynamic and diverse nature, necessitates specialized environments that cater to a range of disciplines, from acrobatics to juggling. The quality and suitability of spaces directly impact the safety, innovation, and collaborative potential within the circus community.
'Space and Infrastructure' is one of the main themes within the ‘Landschapstekening Circuskunsten’ of Circuscentrum. This emphasis is driven by the recognition that the available spaces in Flanders do not consistently align with the requirements of circus artists, who engage in training, creating, and performing across diverse locations in Flanders/Brussels. Circuscentrum is therefore conducting a mapping of existing infrastructure and a first indicative research to gain a better understanding of the specific needs and preferences of circus artists concerning space and infrastructure. The objective is not solely to analyse the existing state of affairs but also to formulate concrete recommendations for potential enhancements.
For the purposes of this mapping, I took over the qualitative part, mainly consisting of 10 interviews with users of the circus spaces, aka artists of various disciplines, backgrounds, and points in their career.
To check out a first article about some preliminary findings of the research, as well as a presentation of the context of the field of contemporary circus in Flanders, click on the button below.
For the full report on 'Space and Infrastructure' (in Dutch/Flemish) click here. For the whole 'Circus Landschapstekening' in Flanders, look at the website of Circuscentrum.be