Show latest news, more from July 2007.
Young people take centre stage in new circus report
A picture of how popular taking part in circus activities is with young people in England has emerged in a new report commissioned by Arts Council England. The report, ‘Airborne: mapping of youth circus activity in the UK’, shows that more than 5,000 young people currently attend regular circus groups and over 50,000 engage in circus activity through outreach programmes. The popularity of youth circus reflects its success in children’s educational development in schools, youth clubs and community settings. Circus skills help children develop their mental and physical coordination within a creative environment. Arts Council England Director of Theatre Strategy, Barbara Matthews, said: “This is the first ever mapping of youth circus that has been done. It proves how popular youth circus is and how instrumental it can be in engaging young people. “The findings of the report show that this sector reaches a diverse range of social, cultural and ethnic groups and in particular, demonstrates strengths in working with learning disabled people, developing concentration skills and hand-eye coordination.” Following the report, Arts Council England will continue its commitment to the development of youth circus, as part of the Young People’s Participatory Theatre project which aims to increase young people’s participation in all areas of theatre. For more information, CLICK HERE.
Show latest news, more from July 2007.
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >