Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain Offers Club PRO for the Circus Professionals
Founded just four years ago to accommodate the growing needs of the circus industry, Club PRO is a membership for circus professionals who attend the most anticipated annual event in European circus, the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain. Organizers cite their aim as to be a force in promoting inter-connectedness in the industry around the well-established Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain. As a result, Club PRO is open to everyone in the circus industry and connected fields, including artists. Events, workshops, panels and networking opportunities are provided for Club PRO members and these events help boost the benefits of attendance by providing professional opportunities to reach one’s key market.
About the Festival
In its 39th year, the festival, competition and conference will run from February 1st to the 4th in 2018 in Paris. Performers, directors, circus fans and agents will travel from around the world to get a glimpse of today’s most influential circus acts and to award the winners prizes and contracts. Tickets can be purchased for Spectacle A, Spectacle B and Spectacle Des Laureates (the finalists). Check back in with Circus Talk for a full preview of the festival in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, for those who want to go beyond spectating and to join in the conferences and networking opportunities, Club PRO offers a wealth of additional activities. Circus Talk spoke to Kirsty Bell, Club PRO manager, about the benefits of signing up as a member:
Who is Club PRO for and why is it beneficial for a professional to join?
Club PRO is for anyone with a professional interest in circus and the performing arts. Our members include producers, casting agents, directors of schools or circus companies, performing arts and event suppliers (equipment, big tops, LED screens), academics, artists… and more.
Joining Club PRO means maximizing your time at the Festival. The events and meetings that the Club PRO organises make it easier for its members to meet and discuss ideas or develop projects. We aim to lower the barriers between individuals and create an atmosphere conducive to exchange.
What kind of activities will Club PRO offer individuals during the week of Cirque de Demain? How do these activities augment the festival experience? How do these activities help members?
During the four days of the Festival, Club PRO organises conferences (presentations), lunch PROs (a lunch event), documentary film screenings, and informal meetings over a drink.
Obviously, everybody comes to Paris to see the incredible artists who apply to the festival each year perform. However, the ensemble of the Club PRO events adds another dimension to the festival.
It creates an environment of discussion on issues surrounding the circus arts today. It allows the Club PRO members to meet and speak to one another more easily. It helps to make connections between artists and show producers, between companies and suppliers, between individuals, industries, organizations and countries.
Will the PRO website give members extra information about the festival? Is there a way to communicate with other PRO members on the website?
The Club PRO website’s members area provides information on the events taking place for Club PRO members during the festival, and enables them to reserve their places in advance. There are articles and a library of Club PRO newsletters to read, a media gallery with photos and videos as well the possibility of contacting the other Club PRO members. Our online platform lets our members publish updates, send each other messages and create group conversations on different subjects. So its a really useful and recommended tool, especially for first time Club PRO members who need to get a handle on events and details.
I see you offer PRO members some pro spaces during the festival. What is the space to be used for?
The Club PRO members can use the space at the Club PRO Stand during their down time between the shows and events to catch up on emails or to meet up with contacts.
Our PRO Partners can reserve time in one of the Club PRO Domes to host cocktail receptions or presentations for their clients and guests.
What other type of perks can a Club PRO member take advantage of throughout the year?
Throughout the year, Club PRO members can keep in touch via the Club PRO website and stay up- to- date with festival news with our members newsletter.
Tell us a little about the Dome Presentation space. What happens there?
The Dome is the home of the Club PRO presentations, film screenings and meetings. It is the hub of conversation, networking and exchange during the Festival.
Who should become a Pro Partner and can you give me an example of how a company or agent has made good use of that relationship in the past?
Becoming a PRO Partner allows you to increase visibility during the festival. Our partners can place advertisements in the programme, and on our website, and are each given the opportunity to promote their organisation on the big screen at the Club PRO Stand in the Festival entrance hall which is seen by the 15,000 members of the public who visit the Festival over four in 4 days. Partners can also purchase a box in the theatre and invite their guests or clients to see the show.
We have several partners who have been with us year after year, who place adverts about their shows and casting opportunities such as GOP Variete and Cirque du Soleil. Others, such as the co-creator of Compagnie The Rat Pack started out his relationship with the festival as a competing artist and over time, as his career has developed, he has come back as a PRO member and finally, this year, as a partner.
What is one thing you recommend every Club PRO member be sure to do when arriving at the festival?
On your way into the big top, head straight to the Invitations window on the right hand side of the entrance to pick up your invitations (tickets) for the shows and then come and see us at the Club PRO stand to collect your badge, show programme and the programme of Club PRO events.
How does being a Club PRO member or Partner help the Festival?
Becoming a member of the Club PRO is more than just a way to make the most of your time at the festival; it is also a way of supporting the association that organises the festival every year. As a non-profit organisation made up of 1 to 3 employees (depending on the time of year!) and a team of highly invested volunteers, the festival works to give opportunities to young circus artists, and has recently begun working to support the social circus community. Joining the Club PRO means supporting the festival and helping it to continue the work it has been doing for nearly the last 40 years.
The above video about Club PRO is also available in French. Additional videos about the festival’s Club PRO features are available in English and French.
Conference/Events schedule Highlights
SOCIAL CIRCUS CONFERENCE
Demain’s Volunteers – Pascal Pierron, Vice President of the Festival, & Guest speakers
An introduction to the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain’s new initiative; a project developed in the wake of the presentations and discussions about social circus in collaboration with Cirque du Monde, the Ecole National du Cirque in Montreal, Viktor Kee Foundation, Caravan Circus Network and Zip Zap Circus School. It’s aim: to promote the exchange of knowledge and talent between former artists of the festival and social circus projects around the world.
In addition:
- Viktor Kee Foundation – the development of a new social circus project in Ukraine
- Caravan European Youth and Social Circus Network – presentation of social circus actions in Europe.
FILMS
Even When I Fall directed by Kate Mclarnon and Sky Neal
A documentary following the stories of Sheetal and Saraswoti, two young girls who survived child trafficking after being sold to corrupt Indian circuses. They are found and brought back to their home country of Nepal where they are reunited with the families that sold them and where they decide to try and combat the issue of child trafficking by setting up Circus Kathmandu – Nepal’s first and only circus.
Circus Without Borders with an introduction by Guillaume Saladin
This documentary is about the work of world renowned acrobats Guillaume Saladin and Yamoussa Bangoura who share the same dream: to bring hope to their troubled communities through the medium of circus. Their dream takes place in the Canadian Arctic and in Guinea in Western Africa where they help young Inuits and Guineans overcome suicide, poverty and despair, all thanks to circus. Another chance to see this film if you missed it at last year’s Festival
TOMORROW’S GENERATION
Transformation for the future. ENACR: A new space for a new use by Lionel Pioline
As the director of one of France’s National Circus Schools, Lionel Pioline will talk about the difficulties that were facing the ENACR when he took over it’s direction, difficulties which left the school’s future in jeopardy. Faced with an uncertain future, the ENACR had to go beyond the walls of its big top to establish the school’s place in it’s community, working with town planners and transforming the school’s missions and space.
Lionel Pioline is a former artist of the festival and a member of this year’s Jury.
A new role for the circus arts: Circus as non-competitive training by Etha Struick
Circus training helps to develop responsibility, physical aptitude and the ability to work together in young people. In many countries, circus training as a means of physical training or ‘sports-form’ is increasing in popularity. This non-competitive approach, with a focus on each unique participant, has proved itself over the past 25 years. Etha will speak about her experience as circus and sports trainer at De Acrobaat, as a former circus performer and now as Circus theatre choreographer in Nieuw Circus, explaining the results she has seen from the training methods she has helped develop.
In addition:
- FFEC (La Fédération Française des Écoles de Cirque) – Presentation of the Federation’s actions. More details TBA.
OTHER EVENTS
Lunch PRO
Meet the other PRO members and the artists of this 38th edition of the Festival during a meal at the Festival Cantine. Share your experiences and professional journeys in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Each lunch is hosted by a member of the Club PRO team and offers a unique opportunity to foster professional relationships in a cheerful environment. Price of the meal : 23€ (payable in advance at the Club PRO Welcome Desk). Limited places available.
PRO Welcome Meeting – Thursday 1st February 18:30
The official opening of the Club PRO events. A drinks reception hosted by Pascal Pierron, Vice President of the Festival, with a chance to meet the Jury and other Club PRO members before the 1st show on Thursday night.
Artists and PROs meeting – Saturday 3rd February 17:30
Participate in our meeting between the artists of the 38th edition of the Festival and the professional members of the Club PRO. A unique opportunity to come together, to meet one another, to discuss your projects and to exchange your current endeavours.
About Kirsty Bell, Club PRO Manager at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain Kirsty Bell is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, Kirsty was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by culture at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival but it wasn't until later, whilst studying Costume Design in London, that she discovered the world of the circus arts when a friend took her to an aerial silks class. Very quickly, Kirsty fell in love with everything circus! She trained, performed and designed costumes with AirCraft Circus in London for several years before moving to Paris to complete her MBA in Arts and Cultural Management. It was during her studies in Paris that she first discovered the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain. Her experience at the festival made such an impression on her that she decided she had to find a way to work with them and she has been part of the non-profit organisational association of the festival ever since.
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