SPEAK OUT | Together for a safer circus

SPEAK OUT is a European project, led between 2022-2024, aimed at preventing all forms of sexism and gender-based discrimination and violence in the circus arts sector.

The various scheduled activities are designed to support the sector’s main organisations (schools, festivals, companies) and in particular to:

raise awareness among circus stakeholders about abusive behaviour,
collect, develop and disseminate tools and resources,
promote educational and working environments that are physically, psychologically and emotionally safe,
help the sector evolve in a sustainable and structural way towards greater equity and integrity.

SPEAK OUT project was conducted in partnership with JUMP! Equality at work and co-funded by the European Commission’s CERV programme (DG for Justice).

SPEAK OUT, a project against gender-based violence

The SPEAK OUT project was organised around various activities:

Trainings

4 free training courses for directors of professional organisations, specially designed for the circus sector:

SPEAK OUT workshops

These provided an opportunity for our members to organise an awareness workshop in their organisation for their teams and students, with the local association of their choice and in their own language.

Speak Together meetings

These were meetings when peers can talk to each other with the aim of sharing best practice stemming from the realities of the sector. They were organised during our annual events to benefit all members.

April 2023: FEDEC Spring Talks, CADC Balthazar, Montpellier (FRA)
October 2023: FEDEC Encounters at Circa, Auch (FRA)

Conferences

5 conferences to inform a public other than that of the network, about the development, results and outcomes of the project:

25 January 2023 - Round table “Considering integrity and equity in circus education” - BIAC, Marseille (FRA) (Listen to the podcast)
April 2024 - FEDEC Spring Talks, Verein Contemporary Circus in Österreich, Salzburg (AUT)

September 2024 - Fira Tàrrega, Tàrrega (ESP)
October 2024 - Circa Festival, Auch (FRA)

Communication campaign

To raise awareness, prevent discrimination and raise the project’s profile. You can follow the campaign using the hashtag #speakoutcircus. We strongly urge you to use it and share our posts!

SPEAK OUT toolbox

The SPEAK OUT project has allowed the creation of an online toolbox (available in French and English) for preventing discrimination and gender-based violence.

Explore the SPEAK OUT Toolbox

Explore practical resources to prevent discrimination, harassment, and gender-based violence in circus schools - and beyond! Organised in 3 categories—get informed, prevent risks, and react—the toolbox helps create safer, more respectful spaces for all.

Project partners

Partners:

FEDEC (BEL) is leading the SPEAK OUT project which means each of its members can take part in it.
JUMP ! Equality at work (FRA) is a European social enterprise which is an expert in gender equality. Its aim is to create an increasingly inclusive society.

Associated partners

The 4 associated partners shared our desire for a less discriminatory and more inclusive sector. In addition to raising the project’s profile, they provide artistic settings for the training and a vital bridge between schools and the professional world.

The external expert, Rosa Matthis

Rosa Matthis, an independent researcher, was in charge of:

assessing the impact of the project for the sector
collecting tools and best practices
drafting recommendations for structural and long-term changes.

Steering committee

The steering committee is composed of partners, associated partners and external guests. Its role is to ensure that the project is carried out in accordance with the defined objectives.

> Write to the steering committee at speakout@fedec.eu.