The Arxiu Viu de Circ team will hold three participatory meetings with various generations of circus artists

Since last June, the team of the Arxiu Viu de Circ has been working to identify the needs of the Catalan circus community, which until now has lacked a collective memory, with the aim of starting to create a documentation space to preserve its artistic value.

One of the proposals that has emerged and will be carried out during the third quarter of 2024 is a series of participatory meetings with three generations of circus artists, with the aim of involving the circus sector in the creation of a collective narrative of its trajectory and history. These meetings aim to create a narrative that showcases the first-hand experiences of its protagonists, an essential element for understanding this collective process. The idea is to provide content and highlight the diversity of Catalan circus heritage from the late 20th century to the present.

“We want to create a dynamic space for reflection, where artists, creators, researchers, organizations, and other professionals in the sector, educational institutions, and the general public can connect, collaborate, and contribute to the living memory of Catalan circus,” say the team, explaining that the archive aims to be an international reference in the conservation and promotion of circus, placing the history and present of Catalan circus at the center of the global cultural landscape. “We hope our archive will become a vibrant and inclusive meeting point that inspires new generations of artists and researchers, and makes the legacy of our circus accessible to everyone.”

In the coming weeks, details of the meetings will be shared, and the call for participation will be extended to anyone who wishes to join.

The Arxiu Viu de Circ, one of the 15 measures of the Pla d’Impuls del Circ (2023-2026)

The Arxiu Viu de Circ  is one of the 15 measures that make up the Pla d’Impuls del Circ (2023-2026) and is led by La Central del Circ. The team consists of two experts in the Catalan circus sector, Joan Ramon Graell and Ramon Bech; an archivist professional, Manu Valentín; two experts in software and collaborative platforms, Marc Aguilar and Víctor Jiménez from the Bit Lab Cultural Association; and two members of the management team of La Central del Circ, Víctor Bobadilla (artistic coordinator) and Esther Blázquez (head of mediation projects).

The Arxiu Viu de Circ measure aims to strengthen circus research through the creation of a digital archive and the generation of spaces for reflection on circus. This project seeks to collect and organize the circus heritage of Catalonia to preserve its artistic value, facilitate a documentation space that allows broader access to existing materials, and promote a meeting and collaboration space for artists, creators, and researchers.

The Pla d’Impuls del Circ (2023-2026) is an initiative of the Department of Culture of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Association of Circus Professionals of Catalonia (APCC); a boost to the circus sector through 15 measures to strengthen research, promote creation and production, create circuits, enhance national and international projection and dissemination, structure and regulate training, support specific facilities of the sector, enhance professionalization and specialization, disseminate and promote circus in society, and develop projects related to sustainability and accessibility.