Coordination and governance

COORDINATION OF THE NETWORK 

ARTCENA 

Circostrada is based in Paris and coordinated by the national centre for circus and street arts and theatre ARTCENA, (Centre National des Arts du Cirque, de la Rue et du Théâtre). Chaired by Lionel Massétat and led by Gwénola David, ARTCENA helps professionals implement projects and build the future of circus, street arts and theatre.

ARTCENA was created in 2016, when HorsLesMurs, a co-founder of the network, joined forces with the French national theatre centre (Centre National du Théâtre), and is supported by the French Ministry of Culture. 

It is an organisation that brings together and produces resources for contemporary circus and street arts and shares its skills and knowledge with Circostrada. It supports the coordination team on administrative, social, financial, accounting and fiscal issues and also shares its expertise through consulting, training, communication, publication and knowledge dissemination.

To contact the coordination team, visit the Contact page.

HOW THE NETWORK OPERATES

GENERAL MEETINGS

Twice a year, the network brings its members together and invites them to share their experiences, exchange ideas, attend a festival and learn more about the local context in the host country while inviting them to participate in projects developed by internal working groups. 

WORKING GROUPS

All network activities are planned, designed and carried out by internal working groups, made up of network members. Each working group is tasked with developing a specific project related to the network’s areas of interest and its programme of actions. Each group is responsible for its own project, defining its aims and working methodology, according to a general framework set by the coordination team. Each group is led by one or two people, who work closely with the coordination team to provide support and resources, tailored to the needs of each project.

MEMBERS, EVENT PARTNERS

Each Circostrada event is hosted by one of its members, and is organised in close collaboration with them.

This is a real partnership, in which each member invests their time as well as human, financial and logistical resources in order to provide a warm welcome to the network. In addition, members share their expertise with the network with the aim of including all the relevant local key players and resources in the event.

© Arnaud Bertereau

GOVERNANCE OF THE NETWORK

STEERING COMMITTEE

 

Circostrada operates according to a principle of collaborative governance, enshrined by a steering committee created in 2014. The steering committee is appointed by the members of the network and works in close collaboration with the coordination team to define, develop and implement the network's strategy. It is also responsible for considering new membership applications.

The steering committee and the coordination team meet at bi-annual general meetings and at a special meeting organised each year on the fringes of network events. 

The steering committee is elected by the members of the network for a three-year term and can be re-elected once. It consists of eight members, including ARTCENA, which is a permanent member.

 

       

      ITS DUTIES INCLUDE:

      • Evaluating new member applications
      • Participating in the internal governance of the network 
      • Contributing to the planning and running of activities
      • Ensuring that activities are consistent with the values of the network
      • Defining the strategic development of Circostrada
      • Giving a voice to members and supporting them throughout their career with the network
      • Disseminating information from the network to all countries represented by committee members 
      • Representing the network at professional events

      COMPOSITION 

      The steering committee is currently composed of the following members:

      • Bruno Costa

        Bruno Costa is Codirector of Bússola, a Portuguese organization with a mission to support strategic development of artistic and cultural projects. He has a master’s degree in management for the Creative Industries with academic research based on the international mobility of artists, with a special focus on outdoor arts. Currently he is a PhD candidate in Cultural Studies, with research about the European cultural identity. Over the last years he has collaborated in several projects as cultural strategy and artistic programming consultant, as well focusing cooperation projects at national and international levels (coordination of BETA CIRCUS). 

      • Gwénola David

        Gwénola David is Managing Director of ARTCENA – The French National Centre for Circus Arts, Street Arts and Theatre. She studied economics and management of cultural institutions in Paris. She is the former Deputy Director of the CNAC – National Centre for Circus Arts and used to work as a journalist, theatre and dance critique.

      • Isabel Joly

        Isabel Joly is the director of FEDEC, the European federation of professional circus schools, where she shares her passion for arts education with its 80 members worldwide, professional circus schools but also organisations putting the development of circus arts at the heart of their project. After studying communication and journalism at the University of Lille, Isabel joined the European Commission in the education and cultural directorate and this immersion in cultural issues at European level gave her professional life a decisive direction. After 5 years, it seemed vital to her to anchor herself in a grassroots organization so she joined RESEO, the European Network for Opera and Dance education, in 2002, becoming its Director. After 14 rewarding years, Isabel left RESEO for an Antwerp-based musical theater company, Zonzo Compagnie, whose cutting-edge performances delight the ears of young audiences.

      • Antonia Kuzmanić

        Antonia Kuzmanic is the artistic leader of contemporary circus collective ROOM 100 (Jeunes Talents Cirque Europe laureate 2009-2010), residency venue HALA 100 and contemporary circus festival Peculiar Families Festival, both based in Split, Croatia. She started back in 2008 as a self-taught performing artist (contortion and acrobatics) and moved to the production, distribution and development of contemporary circus arts in Croatia and the Balkan region in 2015. ROOM 100 is member of circusnext platform and CIRCUS WITHOUT CIRCUS project.

      • Kiki MuUkkonen

        Kiki Muukkonen is Artistic Director of the circus department of the Swedish cultural centre Subtopia, where she has developed its activities since 2008. She manages national and international programming, international relations, residencies and support programs for artists, and has over the years taken part in several international and European cooperation projects. In 2009, she founded the Nordic circus showcase Subcase, which has taken place in ten editions. In 2017, she founded the festival CirkusMania, which is intended to run its 3rd edition next year, in collaboration with a large number of venues around the whole Stockholm region. 

      • Telma Luis

        Telma Luís is project manager of Imaginarius, International Street Theatre Festival and Creation Centre, a living system of production and cultural circulation, focused on street arts and contemporary circus. Within the festival spectrum, she overviews the programming and production processes and is also in charge of international cooperation projects, such as Roundabout Europe. She also leads audience development and cultural meditation activities, which focus on enriching the spectrum of publics for Imaginarius brand. For the past 2 years, Telma has the role of programming manager for Municipality Theatre, Cineteatro António Lamoso, and outdoor summer activities.

      • Māra Pāvula

        Mara Pavula is the Director of Rigas cirks. After graduation of Master of International artistic cooperation in Paris in 2015 where she researched the strategies for contemporary circus development in Baltic states, Mara has returned to Latvia to work towards the development of contemporary circus in Latvia, by producing events and regularly writing articles about circus for different media in Baltics and abroad. She is also the founder of Sansusi well-being residency program and has been working as a producer for festival Re Riga since 2013. 

      EXTERNAL EVALUATION AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 

      The network constantly strives to create a better experience for its members. This includes developing meaningful programmes, facilitating learning and exchange, and creating opportunities to innovate the contemporary circus and outdoor arts spaces. With CS BODY/IES, Circostrada also has three engaging thematic red threads its members will explore over the next three years.

      A central aspect of this process to learn, grow and improve our programming is impact assessment. since January 2022, Circostrada is working with an external evaluator - Kai Brennert - to learn more about how effective its programmes are, how network members engage with the network, what unspoken needs have not yet been addressed, what processes work and which don't, and how the membership experience can be improved in general. 

      In this framework, four representatives of member organisations were chosen to embark with Circostrada on a journey of reflection and feedback over the coming three years. Our external evaluator Kai B. will be in regular contact with them to learn more about their experiences and their engagement with the Circostrada programme and network, as well as their activities.

       

      Read the mi-term evaluation report of the network HERE

      • Kai Brennert

        Kai Brennert is the Founder of edge & story, an evaluation, research and policy consultancy for culture and sustainable development that works with organisations to assess their impact, effectively and creatively use data, and build resilience for the future. Currently based in Cambodia, he has lived in Germany, Thailand, Iraqi Kurdistan, Australia, the UK and Aotearoa New Zealand, and worked in more than 20 countries across four continents on partnerships, strategy and evaluation. Kai is also the author of curious patterns, a monthly newsletter that explores current issues and policies in the field of arts, impact, international cooperation and sustainable development.

      Have a look at the 5 members involved: 

      • Maria Giulia Guiducci

        Tutti Matti per Colorno, Italy 

        Since the graduation in Sciences of Communication at the University of Bologna Maria Giulia Guiducci manages communication and promotion of performing arts and cultural events, as press officer, online and offline marketing manager, social media manager, external relations manager, tour manager, for several institutions in Italy with an international dimension. Since 2018 she is working continuously with Teatro Necessario, a musical clowns company, and Tutti Matti per Colorno, an international festival, both in the field of contemporary circus. At the same time she manages the Guest and Programmer Office of Santarcangelo Festival in Santarcangelo of Romagna (RM).

      • Gildas Aleksa

        Teatronas, Lithuania

        Gildas Aleksa is a theatre director from Lithuania. He is the head of the organisation Teatronas, which founded the contemporary circus festival Cirkuliacija and recently opened the first contemporary circus centre in the country Cirko Sapiens.

         

         

      • Kiki Muukkonen

        Subtopia, Sweden

        Kiki Muukkonen is Artistic Director of the circus department of Subtopia, where she has developed its activities since 2008. She manages national and international relations, artistic programming, residencies and development programs. She plays an active role in the organising of several platforms and international collaboration projects. In 2009, she founded the Nordic-Baltic circus showcase Subcase, which has taken place in twelve editions. In 2017, she founded the festival CirkusMania in collaboration with 30 venues around the whole Stockholm region. In 2021 she initiated the think tank Samovar Circles in close partnership with Nordic and Baltic partners. 

      • Artur Ghukasyan

        HIGH FEST, Armenia 

        Artur Ghukasyan has been for the last 20 years the president of HIGH FEST International Performing Arts Festival which in 2019-2021 was amongst the 24 best European festivals by European Festival Association. He studied Arts Management and Cultural Policy in London City University. Since 2012, he has organized HIGH STREET International Outdoor Theatre and Circus Festivals in many countries.

      • Annie Grundy

        Articulture, Wales 

        Annie Grundy is a co-founder of Articulture: a Community Interest Company dedicated to the development of outdoor arts in Wales. Pre-Articulture, her background was in international relations and events for a London Authority, later moving into outdoor festivals and events as a freelancer. Her role within Articulture is primarily focussed on developing partnerships to enable the company’s vision  for everyone in Wales to have an equal opportunity to experience high quality outdoor arts and enjoy the benefits that they bring to people and communities.

      SHIFT Eco-Certification Programme

      The SHIFT eco-certification pilot phase is an opportunity to rethink our practices as international cultural networks and change our mindsets and behaviours. SHIFT guidelines give a perfect framework and support for this transformation. We hope the process will act as an inspiration for our members and wider (cultural) communities to act for the environment.”

      The SHIFT pilot phase targets the development of a tailor-made scheme, leading to a first audit and green certification for the participating cultural networks. The guidelines for the certificate have been developed in the course of an Erasmus+ co-funded cooperation project.

      Participating networks have chosen a collaborative approach to implement this process. Facilitated by Creative Carbon Scotland and Green Leisure Group, this will be brought to life through regular workshops for all participants to review and reflect on progress while continually developing the guidelines underpinning certification.

      During the first year of implementation of mandatory measures embedded in the SHIFT eco-guidelines, the work will not only be done with the core group of participating organisations but also discussed and shared with the members of the 16 network. This multiplying effect of the eco-certificate will be seen over the longer term through inspiring other networks (at international and national levels) or membership-based associations to green their practices while using the SHIFT eco-guidelines. Participating cultural networks believe that eventually, upon completion of the pilot phase, the eco-certificate will have the potential to become financially self-sustainable while bringing more networks into the certification process and a collective ‘eco-system’ of change.

      This experience, and ultimately the certificate, will help Circostrada to establish a credible track record of concrete actions to be able to prove our commitment to become a more sustainable and socially responsible European network.

      Look at Circostrada Charter for ecological sustainability HERE