Circus for everyone
Social Circus since 1995
Social Circus
At Cirkör, as with circus companies worldwide, there's a strong tradition of using circus training to strengthen individuals and work for positive societal change. The term Social Circus describes circus as a social hub, a place for people to meet, an educational tool and a social actor.
29 educational years
One year after Cirkus Cirkör became a non-profit association, we held our first courses at Kulturhuset in Stockholm. Since then, pedagogy, circus training, and the circus as a social engine have been essential for our company.
Contemporary circus is an international scene, and collaboration with others in networks such as Baltic Nordic Circus Network, FEDEC and Caravan Circus Network is part of our daily operations.
Lights On Circus
Thanks to a generous contribution from Stenastiftelsen, children from preschool to year 7 in the areas Hisings Backa, Rannebergen, Hammarkullen and Hjällbo can train circus together with Cirkus Cirkör. The circus training is arranged within the Gothenburg municipality's Lights On. The classes are arranged on the school's premises after school hours and are free of charge for the participants.
The European Core Curriculum for Youth and Social Circus Pedagogy
Since 2019, Cirkus Cirkör has worked in an Erasmus+ funded project to strengthen circus pedagogy and professionalize the job as a circus educator. Five European circus schools and three universities have collaborated on a European curriculum for a bachelor's degree in circus pedagogy. In June 2022, an international conference was held where the project's results and content were presented to a broad international audience.
Wire walking for life
In the summer of 2022, participants from our course Lines & Wires wire-walked across the River Corrib in Galway, Ireland. Many young people have lost their lives in the river over the years, but now the water has turned into a stage for the courage and determination required to cross it on a wire. The project was organized by our friends at Galway Community Circus. Now, the mini-documentary about LifeLine has been released on YouTube - and HERE you can also read the ETC article (in Swedish).
Foto: Sanna Lindberg
Contemporary circus meets yarn in a worldwide peace movement
Since 2013, thousands have knitted peace with us. During its travels worldwide, our production, Knitting Peace, has engaged and encountered “peace-knitters” who, in turn, have shared their creations and reflections on knitting peace with us and others.
Botkyrka, the circus centre of Sweden
Children's right to culture
All fifth and eighth-graders in Botkyrka are offered the opportunity to come to the Cirkör House and try circus training. This guarantees all Botkyrka's students a shared experience of culture.
Sweden trains circus
Cirkör in schools
Every year, we visit schools nationwide with our educational shows and workshops. Right now, we are touring with Extra Everything!
Touring the parks
Together with Folkets Hus och Parker, we travel around Sweden during the summers to ensure all children get to try circus training.
Clowns Without Borders
Cirkushoppet
In 2016 and 2017, the "Cirkushoppet" project visited 35 locations in Sweden to spread laughter and joy to 4,000 children and adults who came to Sweden as refugees.
World-class educators
Integration in the theatre foyer
Fear to Action takes place alongside performances of Limits and pays tribute to all the enthusiasts who work for integration and crossing boundaries. In Östersund, a grab bag was set up; in Stockholm, lectures and photo exhibitions were arranged; and in Västerås, an art auction. Each venue celebrated local projects.
Foto: Mats Bäcker
Foto: Maryam Barari
Female values are changing the world
Before each performance of Epifónima, the theatre foyer was filled with conversations with authors, norm-critical dance, photo exhibitions, music, poetry and much more. The movement took place between 2018 and 2019.
Circus Trans Formation (CTF)
Training for trainers
Based on five years of EU-funded research, working with two universities and eight Caravan members, Circus Trans Formation In Action (CTF) provides ongoing training in social circus. Our trainers take four learning modules at four different international circus schools, joining circus trainers worldwide. Through exercises, group discussions and a guidebook, they share experiences and learn from some of the most experienced trainers at the hosting schools. The goal is to equip the trainers with confidence, new perspectives and methods for training within the social circus field.
Being a relatively small industry in most countries, the circus community has always needed to reach out globally to find shared experiences. Social Circus trainers worldwide shared the need to talk about the special circumstances in their field and train themselves to increase their competence and confidence. A formal training program not only meets the initial needs but helps professionalise the job and enhance the status of social circus training within the circus community.
It just got better
The project CTF Advanced develops and enhances the Circus Trans Formation (CTF) training program by strengthening the network with partners from social work and youth work. It disseminates the knowledge gained from previous CTF training programs and facilitates active communication between the fields of circus art, social work, and youth work. The project also evaluates the CTF training program, updates the CTF Guidebook, and establishes a peer network and follow-up strategy for CTF alumni.
The project's most important outputs include a research report on the impact of CTF training, pedagogical refinements, suggestions for more inclusive language usage, fine-tuning of the practical arrangements for the training, and possibilities for social circus teachers to interact and collaborate internationally.