THE BALLOON MAN

Circus Space renamed with new national status

Students at London's Circus Space, now renamed as the National Centre for Circus Arts. Photo: National Centre for Circus Arts

from: thestage.co.uk

By:  Nicola Merrifield

March 11, 2014

London-based training centre Circus Space has been renamed as the National Centre for Circus Arts, to recognise its role in providing training and also championing the artform since the company was founded 25 years ago.

At an event held today to mark its new status, the organisation revealed plans to increase circus training outside of London.

Joint chief executive Kate White said the organisation wanted to create a “network of youth circuses” around areas of the country that have little or no circus training provision at the moment.

She said the NCCA hoped to take its London Youth Circus programme – aimed at training young people aged 11 to 21 years in circus skills – to regions outside of the capital by working with local dance, gymnastic and theatre organisations.

White said the company wanted to create more opportunities for young people coming into the industry and to ensure that working in circus arts was a viable career option.

“For us the national status is about us being able to proliferate more work, and it’s more work all over the country,” said White.

She added: “Our successful London Youth Circus model, which is a curriculum based and progressive training route, we would like to see in other places across the country. We have some partner organisations, who are already interested in working on that with us.”

The NCCA provides rehearsal spaces to professional circus companies and artists as well as courses leading to qualifications. It is the UK’s only training provider to offer a degree in circus arts and its application to achieve national status was supported by industry bodies including Arts Council England.