- Arts
VISION
The Palestinian Circus School wants to contribute to strengthening a constructive and dynamic Palestinian identity and culture and a fair society. The Palestinian Circus School is convinced of the powerful impact the arts have in these areas. It therefore participates in and encourages the development of the circus arts in Palestine.
The Palestinian Circus School will also explore and create new artistic interactions with other performing arts in Palestine and in the international scene.
By developing circus arts in Palestine, the Palestinian Circus School opens new windows to the world for Palestinians and opens a door for the world to Palestine.
MISSION
The mission of the Palestinian Circus School has three axes:
PROFESSIONAL
To train young people to become professional circus artists or trainers
CIRCUS ARTS IN PALESTINE
To spread circus arts all over Palestine
SOCIAL
To use the circus arts as a social tool to develop the creative potential of Palestinians, seeking to engage and empower them to become constructive actors in their society.
1. Educational
1.1. Circus Clubs
PCS organizes groups of students who meet weekly to learn and practice circus arts. The purpose of these groups is to empower youth physically, emotionally, cognitively and artistically by introducing them to trust games and training them in circus arts such as juggling, acrobatics, stilts, aerials, dance, and theater.
1.2. Summer School
Each year during the summer break PCS conducts an optional intensive three-week course to further enhance the skills of trainers and advanced students from the weekly circus clubs. Participants are highly-motivated individuals between the ages of 10 and 25. This training program is developed by PCS in cooperation with international circus groups and schools. At the end of the Summer School, students and instructors develop a complete show which they perform at several locations throughout the West Bank.
2. Artistic
2.1. Productions and Performances
Since its founding, PCS students and trainers have produced and performed lively and rich circus shows throughout Palestine. Performances include:
• Mobile Circus
• La Wein
• Circus Behind the Wall
• Dreams for Sale
* Kol Saber!
3. Social
Jenin Girls
Through weekly workshops 35 girls (age 16-20) are introduced to trust games and basic circus skills. More importantly, circus is used as a social tool to build self-esteem and foster healthy, respectful relationships among the girls. After training, the girls in the club have opportunities to demonstrate their skills in shows for family and friends.
We are very actively engaged in different fields through arts education and creation: community development, youth work locally and internationally, working for social change. We have a huge experience and network and are happy to share our experience with all other local members.
Since the founding of the School in 2006, we have been enagegd in all the fields of work in which the Anna Lindh Foundation works and we strongly believe in its goals. We also have been working all those years in establishing a very broad international newtork and have embarked on many small and larger international cooperations. We now want to develop even stronger structural partnerships with people and organisationas regionally and internationally. We believe the Anna Lindh Foundation is the perfect platform to allow these actions to develop and we believe we can learn a lot from previous experiences and even contribute to the networks with our experience. We also want to apply for support for some of our international activities.