As circus arts have increased in practice and popularity, many conversations within the circus community about representation, accessibility, and communication amongst different genders, races, and cultural perspectives are being called into review. Such discourse is reflective of an historical cultural moment that is happening on a global scale. In the performing arts sector, these issues take on a level of nuance that go beyond those of more traditional workplaces. The physical nature of our work, the vulnerability of creative process, the power dynamics in a production hierarchy, and other conventions of our field complicate the delineation of healthy boundaries and safe, inclusive spaces. Even legally, as freelance contractors, our rights are different than those are for employees of a business.

Photo by Christy Kissick for APAP The question of how to have healthy professional boundaries and dynamics in the creative sector inspired a new panel conversation to be of...