MIROIR PROJECT-PART 1, 2008

In 2008, FEDEC launched an extensive project aiming to improve its knowledge of the professional circus arts sector and the training possibilities available to future professional artists. The same year, two parallel research projects were initiated: firstly, one that will allow a better knowledge of artists’ key skills from the employers’ point of view; and secondly, a census of training centres in order to built a directory of existing circus arts training centres in Europe and beyond.

Miroir 1 – Section 1: key skills for circus artists according to the employers of professional artists

This first section of the « Miroir » project was realised in collaboration with employers of the circus sector.

A sample of 45 employers of circus artists, representing different business sectors and different countries, completed a survey or an interview about the key competences they consider to be necessary for professional artists today (technical and artistic qualities, versatility, entrepreneurial skills, teaching skills, etc.).

The implementation of this study, all personal interviews, and the questionnaire were realised in cooperation with Pascal Jacob. The report covering the results of the survey can be download here. 

In 2008, FEDEC also launched a broad online survey addressed to circus arts training centres, aiming to draw up an overview of circus arts training in Europe and worldwide.

This online questionnaire gathered detailed information on training programmes, qualifications and diplomas, number of students and teachers in each school.

A directory of 620 circus training centres in Europe and beyond, including a basic statistical report, was published using this information. The Directory classifies schools according to the type of training they provide: leisure, preparatory, professional, continuing education, and unspecified.

An online searchable database of this directory is available under the Schools tab of this website.

The directory is downloadable here.

To receive a printed version of the directory, please contact Mathilde Robin by email
mathilde.robin@fedec.eu or by phone +32 2 678 09 98.
The huge amount of information that was collected is available to FEDEC members on request.

This project was supported by the European Union (Education and Culture DG– Education and Lifelong Learning Programme).