International Circus Alliance meeting in Finland 26.11.-28.11.

Sorin Sirkus, together with Caravan Circus Network, organized the International Circus Alliance meeting at youth centre Marttinen in the city of Virrat.  The goal of the event was to create space to network, learn from other circus organizations and among other things host a strategy workshop for Caravan.  An impressive group of participants from around the world arrived, including Canada, Lebanon, Palestine, Ireland, Italy, Belgium, and Germany. The Finnish cottage atmosphere, traditional food, sauna, and ice swimming were completely new experiences for many!

Thursday's workshops focused on developing the Caravan Network's future strategy and exploring themes through various performances. The day also included workshops to familiarize participants with the network's plans and communications for the coming year.

On Friday, the network's projects and initiatives were presented, and an important and in-depth discussion was held on the situation in Palestine and Lebanon and the network's role in the global circus field. The event highlighted how circus builds community, opens dialogue, and inspires future collaboration. What also made the event meaningful was that all participants spent three days together at Marttinen. All meals and most of the free time were spent together, which allowed discussions to continue and connections to deepen even outside the official program. The event was made possible through Erasmus+ funding. 

On Friday evening, participants got to see this years Sorin Sirkus Christmas show - Soriversum, which received a standing ovation from the international audience. The entire event was truly communal, inspiring, and diverse! As a part of the event Sorin Sirkus interviewed some of the participants about various themes. At the event we discussed themes around the future of circus, importance of international collaboratios and lessons that were learned during the International Circus Alliance Meeting.

The future of youth circus and social circus 

This special feature brings together four influential figures shaping today’s youth and social circus landscape. Becca Clayton, chief operating officer of Galway Community Circus in Ireland and a board member of the Caravan Network, shares her perspective. Mohammad Rabah, who is a director of the Palestinian Circus School talks about his experience. Rose Abou Elias adds insight from the Lebanese social circus Cirquenciel. Will Borrell, originally from the UK and now based in Belgium, represents the Caravan Youth and Social Circus Network. Together, they offer an insightful look at how youth and social circus are evolving internationally. 

The interviewees share an optimistic outlook for the future of circus arts. Becca Clayton describes the landscape as “really bright”, pointing to the rise of new projects and professionals collaborating across Europe. She says that circus plays an important role in supporting young people navigating in the challenges that we live in today. 

Rose Abou Elias believes that the future of social circus, in particular, will be shaped by strengthened solidarity. She envisions a growing web of partnerships and collaborations. Together, their perspectives outline a future in which circus continues to flourish not only as an art form but also as a social force that connects communities.  

Motivations for working in circus 

The motivations that drive these circus professionals stem from personal transformation, community building and the expressive power of circus arts. Will Borrell explains that his passion is rooted in the positive change he has witnessed in participants learning circus skills. Having discovered juggling over 15 years ago, he soon found his way into other disciplines such as hand balancing, acrobatics and unicycling. What inspires him is how circus enables people to dream and to turn those dreams into reality. He says he benefited hugely both mentally and physically from engaging in circus practice.  

For Becca Clayton, the driving force is the transformative impact youth and social circus can have. She has seen circus being a life changing experience, and she is motivated by opportunities to support their wellbeing. Rose Abou Elias highlights human connection as her source of inspiration. She sees circus as an artform filled with creativity, talent and limitless possibilities. What captivates her is the ability of circus to “talk about anything” - to express ideas, stories and emotions with a powerful universal language. 

The importance of international collaboration 

A strong consensus emerges regarding the importance of global cooperation. Becca Clayton says that international exchange is more important than ever. She says we are all working in different contexts, in different kinds of situations. Learning from each other and sharing approaches is essential for strengthening the circus sector. “We are very lucky to do international collaboration in circus” Becca says.  

For Mohammad Rabah, international collaboration has personal and political significance. “Being part of Caravan and of international collaborations is very important for us as Palestinians. Israel is trying to isolate us and take away our sense of life and humanity. So participating in international collaborations is a form of resistance and resilience. It allows us to take young people out to see the world, to connect with others, to feel solidarity, and to build human connections in a creative way” Mohammad says.  

Mohammad also says that this meeting is very important full of love, solidarity, and reflection. “Reflecting on what we’ve done and celebrating what we’ve achieved as a collective is important. That feels like our strength” he says.  

 Lessons learned during the international circus alliance meeting 

The International Circus Alliance meeting proved to be a moment of shared learning, connection and reflection. Rose Abou Elias notes that hearing about other countries’ challenges made her realize how similar many struggles are, deepening her sense of international solidarity. Will Borrell speaks more playfully about the lessons he learned. He discovered new food traditions, learned fresh methods for teaching juggling and importantly mastered the correct way to use a sauna!  

For Becca Clayton, the meeting reinforced the importance of coming together. Being surrounded by colleagues, partners and friends renewed her energy and reminded her that their collective work matters, despite often difficult circumstances. Mohammad Rabah says the gathering encouraged him to think more about the future and to keep dreaming. He also recognized the need to involve young people more directly in decision-making at both organisational and network levels. He believes youth participation is a central priority. 

This event was  made possible through Erasmus+ funding.