ECA Newsletter 03/2020
Circus on the national ICH list in Sweden
„Touring classical circus,“ is a living tradition and has been added to the National Inventory of intangible cultural heritage in Sweden. Thanks to the initiative by ECA Board members Carmen and Trolle Rhodin of Cirkus Brazil Jack, Sweden is the fourth country in Europe to acknowledge circus on its national list, following the Netherlands, Hungary and Finland. The Institute of language and folklore have the responsibility for this list in Sweden (www.isof.se). The Rhodins are now trying to achieve the same recognition also in Denmark and Norway, working closely together with other ECA member circuses in those countries.
Circus è la cultura!
Just recently, the highest representatives of the European Union acknowledged in writing their belief that circus is part of the European culture. David Maria Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, wrote this in a letter to ECA Board member Fabio Montico last year and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, wrote it in a letter to MEP Istvan Ujhelyi and to the ECA:
The Representative of the Federal Government for Culture and Media:
“First of all, I would like to inform you that our house sees the “circus arts” also in the sense of the word as a part of our cultural tradition and living presence. This includes that many circus acts are considered to have an artistic value. I also underline this point because we hear time and again that the Federal Government does not consider circus to have a cultural value.”
State government of North Rhine-Westphalia:
“According to the corona protective decree (CoronaSchVO) of the state of North Rhine- Westphalia in the version valid since May 30, 2020 as well as in the modified version since June 15, 2020, the operation of circuses is not forbidden. Though circuses are not explicitly mentioned in the decree, they may restart their operation – as other cultural institutions, too – with restrictions, according to § 8.1 CoronaSchVO.”
State government of Lower Saxony:
“Unfortunately, I cannot give you any concrete date for a possible reopening of circus companies. According to § 1.3.2 of Lower Saxony’s decree about infection control measures against the spreading of the coronavirus, theatres, operas, concert halls, cultural centres and similar institutions, thus including circuses, are closed for public and visitors, independent from the respective operators and proprietors.”
Minister President Haseloff (Thuringia):
“This is missing, this culture that has had such an influence in Europe over the centuries. We must not lose it.”
Please feel free to use these quotes wherever that may be applicable, but, please, mention the source European Circus Association.
Special support for circus in Hungary
Péter Fekete, Minister of State for Culture in Hungary and a member oft he ECA Executive Board, ci ha informato che l'Ungheria ha introdotto in modo eccezionale un pacchetto di assistenza finanziaria per i circhi itineranti ungheresi,,en,artisti indipendenti e artisti che lavorano con gli animali,,en,L'importo esatto finanziato dal Ministero delle capacità umane ammonta a EUR,,en,aiutare le arti circensi,,en,euro,,en,aiutare gli artisti circensi indipendenti,,en,aiutare i circhi itineranti e l'EUR,,en,aiutare i circhi contemporanei,,en,inoltre,,en,una somma aggiuntiva di EUR,,en,sono stati spesi per il benessere degli animali e per i mangimi,,en,In questi giorni i circhi itineranti stanno già eseguendo le loro prime e Péter Fekete sta facendo del suo meglio per assistere ad ogni spettacolo di apertura nelle città di tutta l'Ungheria,,en,Il direttore del Circo Capitale di Budapest,,en,dr,,en,Beata Piselli,,hu,insieme al manager professionista del circo,,en,József Graeser “Dodi”,,hu,ha usato il periodo passato,,en, independent artists and artists working with animals. The exact amount financed by the Ministry of Human Capacities adds up to EUR 300.000 aiding circus arts, EUR 80.000 aiding independent circus artists, EUR 150.000 aiding travelling circuses and EUR 10.000 aiding contemporary circuses. Moreover, an additional sum of EUR 70.000 were spent on animal welfare and feed.
These days travelling circuses are already carrying out their premiers and Péter Fekete is trying his best to attend each and every opening show in cities all over Hungary.
The director of the Capital Circus of Budapest, dr. Beáta Borsós, together with the circus professional manager, József Graeser “Dodi”, has used the past period, caused by the unfortunate kick-in of the pandemic, to renovate and issue maintenance work all around the building of the Capital Circus of Budapest. They have provided accommodation, board, and rehearsal space free of charge for all the artists, who were stuck in Hungary due to the travel restrictions. Furthermore, it is exemplary how they took care (of the feed) of the Russian animals, that also had to stay in Budapest longer than planned, due to the pandemic.
In the meantime, the emergency state has been lifted off of Hungary. Travelling circuses are already on their ways and the Capital Circus of Budapest is preparing and rehearsing its brand-new summer show, Fairy Dance – Woman Magic, premiering 18th Luglio.
Germany supports the circus with € 5 milione
On initiative of the European Circus Association, € 5 million have been reserved for the circus industry as part of the aid programme “New Start Culture” of the representative of the Federal Government for Culture and Media. From August 31, 2020 on, circuses can submit applications for “investments caused by the pandemic”. The application procedure ends when all financial means have been granted, but not later than on October 31, 2020. The funding amount per application lies between € 5,000 e 100,000. The Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Zirkuspädagogik e.V. is in charge of the administration and forwarding of these funds. The support is aimed at all circuses, traditional companies as well as circus pedagogical institutions, circus schools and projects of the so-called contemporary circus to enable them to reopen or to realize hygienic concepts / norme sul distanziamento sociale a causa della pandemia,,en,Tra questi investimenti legati alla pandemia ci sono le installazioni protettive,,en,sistemi di biglietteria online,,en,la modernizzazione dell'aria condizionata,,en,un'altra gestione del pubblico e posti a sedere,,en,impianti sanitari ecc,,en,Fondo speciale di emergenza in Italia,,en,Il periodo di lockdown per i circhi è iniziato a fine febbraio,,en,in diverse regioni e all'inizio del,,en,in tutta Italia,,en,Ente Nazionale Circhi contacted immediately the National Civil Protection Service,,it,Protezione Civile,,it,parte del Ministero dell'Interno,,en,segnalando l'ubicazione di ogni circo nel territorio,,en,l'elenco degli animali e le esigenze specifiche di ciascuno,,en,Attraverso il locale dipartimento del Servizio di Protezione Civile i circhi sono stati supportati per i bisogni primari,,en. Among those pandemic-related investments are protective installations, online ticket systems, the modernization of air conditioning, another audience management and seating, sanitary installations etc.
Special emergency fund in Italy
The lockdown period for circuses has begun at the end of February 2020 in several regions and at the beginning of Marzo in whole Italy. Ente Nazionale Circhi contacted immediately the National Civil Protection Service (Protezione Civile, part of Ministry for Interior Affair) reporting the location of every circus in the territory (circa 50) , the list of animals and the specific needs of each one. Going through the local department of Civil protection Service the circuses were supported for the basic needs. Altri sostegni sono arrivati dalle associazioni di agricoltori e soprattutto dal C.E.I,,en,Conferenza Episcopale Italiana,,it,Conferenza Episcopale Italiana,,en,e CARITAS,,en,Nel frattempo,,en,L'Ente Nazionale Circhi ha aperto contatti con tutte le autorità nazionali e locali per ottenere il permesso a tutti i circhi di rimanere nelle aree dove sono rimasti bloccati al momento della dichiarazione di lockdown,,en,senza alcun pagamento o penalità,,en,L'Ente Nazionale Circhi ha chiesto al Governo la dichiarazione di “stato di crisi” per il settore delle arti circensi,,en,il blocco di tutti i pagamenti delle tasse,,en,supporti sociali per i dipendenti,,en,Poi,,en,L'Ente Nazionale Circhi ha aiutato due circhi bloccati in Grecia e Tunisi a tornare in Italia,,en,Il Ministero della Cultura ha emanato decreti per sostenere gli spettacoli dal vivo,,en,circo incluso,,en,Un fondo speciale di emergenza per tutto il settore dello spettacolo dal vivo con €,,en. (Conferenza Episcopale Italiana – Italian Episcopal Conference) and CARITAS.
Meanwhile, Ente Nazionale Circhi opened contacts with all national and local authorities to get the permission for all circuses to stay in the areas were they got stuck at the moment of lockdown declaration, without any payment or penalties. Ente Nazionale Circhi asked to the Government for a declaration of “state of crisis” for circus arts sector, the stop of all taxes payments, social supports for employees. Then, Ente Nazionale Circhi helped two circuses stuck in Greece and Tunis to get back in Italy.
The Ministry of Culture issued decrees to support live shows, circus included:
- A special emergency fund for all live show sector with € 130 milione;
- On Aprile 22nd è stato firmato dal Governo un decreto per distribuire,,en,più milioni di € per le arti performative,,en,un supporto speciale per le piccole imprese,,en,Teatro,,en,danza,,en,arti di strada,,en,non in grado di raggiungere il fondo principale,,en,FUS,,fr,Comunque,,en,tutte le aziende che in,,en,ricevuto immediatamente un fondo pubblico può ottenere,,en,di tale importo nonostante i criteri precedenti stabiliti,,en,Il problema principale è che ad alcuni circhi non è consentito ottenere alcun importo a causa della mancanza dei requisiti di base,,en,Al momento parte dei circhi italiani ha ripreso a girare,,en,alcuni di loro all'aperto,,en,altri sotto tenda ma con limitazioni per numero di posti,,en,distanza,,en,I circhi protestano contro il lockdown per il Covid-19,,en,Il blocco dovuto alla pandemia di Covid-19 e il divieto pratico per i circhi e gli spettacoli hanno scatenato proteste in diversi paesi,,en,più di,,en 20 more millions of € for performing arts: a special support for small companies (theatre, dance, circo, street arts) not able to get to the main Fund (FUS);
- Anyway, all companies that in 2019 received immediately a public fund can get 80% of that amount notwithstanding the established previous criteria. The main problem is that some circuses are not allowed to get any amount cause missing basic requirements.
At the moment part of Italian circuses started touring again, some of them open air, other under tent but with restrictions by number of seats, distance, ecc.
Circuses protest against Covid-19 lockdown
The lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the practical ban for circuses and show folks has sparked protests in several countries. In Germania, more than 1,000 camion di gente della fiera e circhi hanno bloccato le strade di Berlino,,en,Secondo la polizia locale,,en,le persone si sono presentate per chiedere la libertà di fare il proprio lavoro,,en,A Londra,,en,artisti di diversi circhi si sono riuniti su,,en,consegnare una lettera aperta al Primo Ministro Boris Johnson chiedendo più aiuto e supporto,,en,In entrambe le città,,en,anche membri della European Circus Association erano tra i manifestanti,,en,S.L.,,en,e Cirkus Arli,,en,hanno recentemente aderito alla European Circus Association,,en,rendendo la nostra associazione ancora più forte di prima,,en,due ex membri dell'ECA hanno deciso di rientrare dopo un'assenza di alcuni anni,,en,Bentornato Cirkus Merano,,en,e Circus Metropolitan Bucarest,,en. According to local police, circa 1,600 people showed up to demand the freedom to do their jobs. In London, artists from several circuses came together on 7th Luglio 2020 to deliver an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson asking for more help and support. In both cities, also members of the European Circus Association were among the protesters.
New members
Productores de Sonrisas, S.L., Spagna, and Cirkus Arli, Danimarca, have recently joined the European Circus Association, making our association even stronger than before. Also, two former members of the ECA have decided to join again after an absence for some years. Welcome back Cirkus Merano, Norvegia, and Circus Metropolitan Bucharest, Romania!
Please look into the Members section (Archive News) to read the full version of this Newsletter