Resources

For over a decade we’ve been exploring and developing innovative pedalogical approaches to youth and social circus. In this resources section you will find Caravan’s research reports and also a database of other useful resources in youth and social circus.

Caravan guidebooks for social circus trainers

Caravan’s Circus Trans Formation guidebook:
ENGLISH Guidebook for social circus trainers
Condensed Version
FRENCH Manuel de Formation pour les Intervenants en Cirque Social
SWEDISH Hanbok För Lärare I Social Cirkus

Other Caravan research

CTF Advanced – Final Research Report

Circus as an Intercultural Encounter – Guidebook

Circus++ Development of the Circus+ Project – The European Core Curriculum for Youth and Social Circus Pedagogy

Circus+ Research on youth and social circus pedagogy. Working towards a level 4 and 6 training programmes in youth and social circus

Circus Overseas Toolkits:
Module 1: Circus arts technical development.
Module 2: Managing and leading youth circus organisations.
Module 3: Pedagogy and act of teaching.
Module 4: Directing and staging circus.

Framework of competencies for social circus trainers

Youth Participation Mapping Report – Summary report – Full report

Caravan Annual reports

Caravan Newsletters

Caravan has an monthly newsletter, which collates together youth and social circus opportunities and news:

2025

February
May

2024

March
May
June
July
October
December

2022

March
October
December

2021

January
February
May
June
September
November

2020

December
September
June
Solidarity Letter COVID-19
January

2019

December
November
October
September
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2018
December
November
October
September

You can sign up to the newsletter here.

Caravan Strategic Plans

2021 – 2025

Projects from our Members

Circus Clinic – Exploring the theraputical potential of contemporary circus.

Reinventing Circus Organisations – Embracing Modern Management for the 21st Century.

Youth and social circus news

Caravan’s monthly newsletter collates together news and opportunities from the youth and social circus sector. Circus Talk Online community for circus and has a whole page dedicated to social circus Social Circus Community Facebook group over 900 members sharing opportunities on social circus

Connect locally to youth and social circus

Baltic and Nordic Baltic Nordic Circus Network Ireland Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network Finland Sircusinfo The Finnish Youth Circus Association United Kingdom Circus Works Spain PEECSE – Plataforma Española de Escuelas de Circo Socio Educativo Poland Pedagogika cyrku Czech Republic and Slovakia Cirkonet France Federation Française des Écoles de Cirque Brazil Rede Circo do Mundo Brasil Italy Altro Circo USA American Youth Circus Asia Asian Social Circus Association Chile Red Chilena de Circo Social You can also use the Cirque Du Monde Social Circus Map to find other social circus organisations in your area Masterlist of social circuses worldwide

Training for trainers opportunities

If you are a trainer at one of our member’s schools, you can inquire about taking part in Caravan’s Circus Trans Formation training for trainers. If you’re independent, get in touch with us on info@caravancircusnetwork.eu. Formation Pedagogique – Ecole de Cirque de Bruxelles Recognised as the first professional training in circus arts, every year this training gathers students from different European countries.

Volunteering opportunities

We have a volunteering section of our website that lists opportunities

Social circus research

“I Feel Seen”: Creating Safe Spaces to Foster Self-Understanding and Agential Expression Among Youth Through Social Circus – Franco A. Carnevale Et Al. 2024

“Circus in Dis-comfort Zones” AltroCirco and Cirque du Monde, 2018

Social Circus as an Organised Cultural Encounter Embodied Knowledge, Trust and Creativity at Play. Ilaria Bessone Journal of Intercultural Studies, 2017

Studying Social Circus – Openings and Perspectives. Culture Has an Impact! Seminar in Tampere, Finland. Tampere: University of Tampere. Kekäläinen, K. 2014

“They’re smiling from ear to ear”. Wellbeing effects from social circus. Tampere: University of Tampere Kekäläinen, K. & Kakko, S 2013

Les personnes handicapées ont-elles droit au loisir? L’exemple du cirque contemporain français. Loisir et Société / Society and Leisure Lantz, E. 2017

Serving PE Teachers’ Professional Learning Experiences in Social Circus. New Horizons in Education Li, Chung 2010

Cirque du Monde in Mexico City: breathing new life into action for young people in difficult situations: A circus in action for young people in difficult situations. International Social Science Journal, Rivard, J., Bourgeault, G., & Mercier, C. 2010

Circus Training for Autistic Children: Difference, Creativity, and Community. New Theatre Quarterly,Seymour, K., & Wise, P. 2017

Re-approaching community development through the arts: a ‘critical mixed methods’ study of social circus in Quebec. Community Development Journal. Spiegel, Jennifer B., & Parent, S. N. 2017

Social Circus: The Cultural Politics of Embodying “Social Transformation”. The Drama Review. Spiegel, Jennifer B. 2016

Juggling-Exposure Therapy: An Innovation in Trauma Treatment. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, Welburn, K. 2015

Red Chilena de Circo Social (2017) 5to Congreso de Circo Social. Navegando hacía nuevos rumbos pedagógicos y comunitarios a través del circo social. Santiago de Chile.

Social Circus and employability (2018) Cirque Hors Piste Jacinthe Rivard, professeure associée; Marilou Vinet Saint-Pierre, étudiante à la maîtrise; École de travail social, Université de Montréal

youth circus research

Falling together: an examination of trust-building in youth and social circus training Cadwell, S. J. Theatre, Dance and Performance Training, 2018 ‘It’s like exercise for your soul’: how participation in youth arts activities contributes to young people’s wellbeing Journal of Youth Studies, Ennis, G. M., & Tonkin, J. 2018 Occupational therapy and circus: Potential partners in enhancing the health and well-being of today’s youth. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Maglio, J., & McKinstry, C 2008 Identifying the influence of leisure-based social circus on the health and well-being of young people in Australia. Annals of Leisure Research Stevens, K., McGrath, R., & Ward, E. 2018 A guide to the study of the wellbeing effects of circus. Tampere: University of Tampere, Centre for Practice as Research in Theatre. Kekäläinen, K. & Kakko, S. 2013 Forecasting the Social Return on Investment Associated with Children’s Participation in Circus-Arts Training on their Mental Health and Well-Being International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure. Richard McGrath & Kristen Stevens. 2019

Other Resource platforms

American Circus Educators – including list of social circus research Circus Arts Research Platform ISACs’ Resources Circostrada resources

Other useful organisations

International funding and mobility opportunities On the Move – mobility and information network Other networks FEDEC – European Federation of Professional Circus Schools EYCO – Umbrella organisation for youth circus networks in Europe

Email info@caravancircusnetwork.eu
Phone +32 (0)492 12 71 71

Rue Picard 3
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Our newsletter

Made by Alice Toullec & Alex Craste