Rotterdam must become the circus city of the Netherlands. Not only Rotterdam Circus Arts thinks so, but also the city itself. Therefore the municipal council of the city on the Maas have initiated the Rotterdam Circus City project (Rotterdam Circusstad). It’s going to start this year – the Year of European Youth 2009. The extensive project includes a big circus festival and numerous circus activities in neighbourhood centres and schools.

With the study programme Rotterdam Circus Arts of Codarts, University for the Arts, the city of Rotterdam possesses the first bachelors’ programme for circus artists in the Netherlands. Rotterdam Circus Arts prepares for the cirque nouveau: the circus form which combines traditional acts with dance and drama, resulting in heart-warming theatrical performances. Rotterdam Circus Arts is an international programme on which various circus experts from abroad are employed, including Jan-Rok Achard, one of the originators of the cirque nouveau.

The aim of the Rotterdam Circus City project is to create enthusiasm for circus among young people, by setting up neighbourhood-oriented activities and organising a circus festival. In the pilot year the participating parties are investigating the kind of impetus that circus in Rotterdam can give. The question is how a cultural and educational infrastructure can be built up to guarantee continuity. Research is also going on to find out if a long-term collaboration between all the participating parties is possible.

The project has three activities:

1. Neighbourhood-oriented activities
In schools and in neighbourhood centres, circus workshops will be held to familiarise young people with the circus. Various organisations are already reaching 10,000 young people with circus. The project aims to reach another 1,000 young people.

2. A circus festival
This festival will take place in the spring of 2010. As the time draws near, neighbourhood-oriented activities will take place and Rotterdam City Theatre, Rotterdam Circus Arts and Luxor Theatre will have circus programmes. At the R’Uitmarkt in September 2009, the starting shot will be fired for these activities. Various names have already been mentioned in this regard, such as Les Têtes en L’air, No Fit State, 7 Fingers, Les Acrobatique de Tanger, Eric Lecompte and Cirque Tsuica.

3. Teaching circus
Together with schools and Circus Rotjeknor, Rotterdam Circus Arts will create an integral teaching programme for circus, which will be implemented by Thorbecke V.O. and Albeda College, and Rotterdam Circus Arts will start a talent class. Furthermore, a conference about circus will be organised in the autumn of 2009.

 Photo Wijnand Schouten.

The partners in the project:
- Rotterdam Circus Arts / Codarts, University for the Arts
- Circus Rotjeknor
- Rotterdamse Schouwburg
- Luxor Theater
- Stichting Welzijn Feijenoord
- Ontwikkelbank Centrum
- Thorbecke V.O.
- Albeda College

The project organisation:
Steering committee
Project manager – Study group
a. Project team Wijkgericht werken
b. Project team Doorlopende leerlijn
c. Project team Circus festival

The steering committee:
- Jikkie van der Giessen, Codarts, University for the Arts, chair woman
- Jan Zoet, Rotterdamse Schouwburg
- Rob Wiegman, Luxor Theater

Project manager is
Patrick Cramers, managing director Rotterdam Circus Arts

Go to the website of Rotterdam Circus City (Dutch only).