Saturday, 18th March 2023
10am – 4pm
£40 per person
This Space is For You is a 1 day course that brings the best international practice in circus-specific inclusivity and diversity training to England, for the first time. Aimed at professional circus trainers, it will develop your ability and confidence teaching circus inclusively. The course uses practical exercises and games to encourage personal growth and attitudinal change in a fun, safe environment.
Young people in youth circuses today are the circus artists of the future. If we want our sector to reflect a range of backgrounds and experiences, we need to ensure that people feel welcome, comfortable and celebrated, from their first steps into the circus world.
Thanks to our partnership with Stiklings, This Space is For You will also include an introduction to using adaptive equipment, such as juggle boards and tight-wire trainers.
The course is primarily aimed at people who teach circus; however if you want to use games and activities to develop your understanding of inclusivity, particularly in teaching environments, it would absolutely be beneficial for you too.
You do not need to have any circus skills to undertake the course.
>Improve your confidence teaching circus to a wide range of people; including those with physical, learning, sensory, or other differences
>Introduction to adapting your teaching practice, your equipment and to using adaptive equipment, to insure inclusivity
>Increase your awareness and understanding of cognitive bias (unconscious bias training)
>Develop your mindset: cultivate your ability to empathise, understand, and adapt
>Learn appropriate language/terminology
>Learn from international best practice in teaching circus inclusively
>Learn to identify and overcome barriers to participation
>Ensure that you have the tools and training you need to support every young person in their creative journey.
CircusWorks is the only support, advocacy and networking organisation for the 100+ youth and community circuses in the UK. We have produced 5 CircusWorks festivals (the largest youth circus festival in the UK), 19 conferences, 7 international research and training projects, and 4 national surveys.
In 2021, CircusWorks worked in partnership with the European Youth Circus Organization (EYCO) to launch ‘Ideas of Inclusion’: an 18 month Erasmus+ project. The project brought together experts in circus, pedagogy, and inclusivity and diversity training, from across 8 different European countries, to develop a one day course in inclusion and diversity training for professional circus trainers. This course has been further refined and subsidised by Arts Council England.
Adaptive circus equipment allows people to learn circus who might otherwise struggle to participate due to physical, learning, sensory, or other differences. As part of This Space is For You, you will be introduced to using some of this equipment, which will then be on sale at a discount price. Adaptitive equipment is made bespoke, so you can order on the course and your equipment will be posted to you once it is ready.
This Space is For You Inclusion Manifesto posters will also be on sale – these are posters made to be displayed in circus schools and youth circus spaces, to communicate an inclusive ethos.
All of our venues have wheelchair access and disabled toilet facilities. BSL signers will be present for the course. We will communicate with you about your access needs before the course.
Absolutely! Carers and assistants (and guide/emotional support animals) are very welcome and do not have to pay.
This Space Is For You is a one day course. It runs for 6 hours, including a 1 hour lunch break.
There will be breaks throughout the day, as well as a 1 hour lunch break. The course is not catered.
Have you got a question about this course that isn’t in the FAQs? Let us know here.