How can circus arts empower communities and transform public spaces to be more inclusive?
SAMOVAR CIRCLES is a network founded in 2022 out of a desire to deepen conversations in a collective engagement within the Nordic and Baltic circus field. The aim was to support artists and presenters in strengthening relationships while collaboratively exploring working models for the future.
Samovar Circles has functioned as a catalyst and boiler of ideas around topics such as the future of international collaboration, diversity and exclusion, engaging the next generation of artists, and the relationship between artists and presenters. Our ambition is to be an empathy-driven think-tank, from which inspiration can ripple outward like circles on water.
We are very proud to announce that Samovar Circles has been awarded funding to continue our activities for 2 years! The focus is on THE INTERSECTION OF ART, COMMUNITY AND PLACE IN CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS. We aim to catalyze new thinking, collaborations and projects – to inspire and capacity build the Nordic and Baltic circus field on these perspectives.
We will explore existing practices in and beyond performing arts, internationally and in our region, outside of the circus sector – drawing on concepts of placemaking, in situ and community based art. 15 seminars, 2 workshops, and 3 study visits will be organised. Some activities take place online, others live. At the end of the period we will publish a toolkit and give seed-funding to two new projects. Some of the activities will be open to anyone, some will be closed for a group of 22 members who commit to the whole process.
Samovar Circles is a long-term network initiated and organised by Subtopia (Sweden), Circus & Dance Finland (Finland), Teatronas (Lithuania), and Passage festival/Helsingör Teater (Denmark). With the support of Nordic Culture Point and Nordic Culture Fund.
