British Council Urban Futures Program
British Council will launch the arts program “Urban Futures” from 2018 for 3 years across North-East Asia, including Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and China. “Urban Futures” program aims to foster greater inclusion and innovation in cities through the arts. In Taiwan, we will support cross-art institutions and practitioners to explore how art can make our cities more open, dynamic, inclusive and fit for the future. Our program themes focus on "Art & Social Activism", "Art, Science & Digital Innovation", "Art & Disability" and "Art & Ageing".
This year as part of the “Art, Science & Digital Innovation” programme, we partner with Wei Wu Ying, National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts to launch the "Building Circustopia– Science, Innovation and Inclusion of Contemporary Circus Development in UK" seminar on 16 November. By holding this seminar, we hope to promote the contemporary circus performances and their use of new technologies to push boundaries. More circus performance groups are also embracing diversities and inclusion. We are pleased to invite three groups from UK, including "Crying Out Loud", "Arcojou" and "Extraordinary Bodies" to join the conversation in Taiwan, and also to share their experiences with this new form of circus performance.
About【Building Circustopia – Science, Innovation and Inclusion of Contemporary Circus Development in UK】
Date: 16 November, 2018
Time: 14:00-17:00
Location: Auditorium, Wei Wu Ying, National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (No.1, Sanduo 1st Rd., Fengshan Dist., Kaohsiung City 83075)
Maximum capacity for the seminar is 100 people. Please reserve your tickets here.
PART 1- Keynote Speech: Building Circustopia – Science, Innovation and Inclusion of Contemporary Circus Development in UK (100 minutes)
The first circus recorded in history was Philip Astley School, founded in 1768 in London, England. Philip Astley is a knight who specializes in equestrian and acrobatics. He was also the first circus director (Ringmaster) to perform acrobatics, stunts and perform in the circus tent, while establishing the art norms and the integration of one performance into different elements brings a refreshing feeling, and in 2018 coincides with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the circus. The British contemporary circus field has a profound tradition and environment, as well as a very steady development. The contemporary circus and the artist's physical characteristics have combined and began to work cross-border.
Moderator: Yi-Wei Keng (Dramaturg of National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts)
- The Journey of Circus Arts Production Development in the UK
Speaker: Axel Satgé, Creative Producer of Crying Out Loud - Circus Arts and Science Innovation - Vagabond Matters
Speaker: Barney White, Co-founder and Creative Director of Arcojou - Circus Arts and Inclusion and Diversity - What am I worth?
Speaker: Billy Alwen & Claire Hodgson , Co-Artistic Director of Extraordinary Bodies
Part 2 - OPEN Talk: From Sparks to Flames: How to Bring Concepts to “LIVE”? (60 minutes)
Weiwuying Circus Platform is for creation, enabling professionals and enthusiasts to create a contemporary circus art creative development base, allowing the circus and acrobatic talents to continue their development in the performing arts. This year, the circus professionals have been convened to share their different aspects, so that creativity is not just a spark, but in daily life.
Moderater: Yi-wei Keng
Speakers:
- Axel Satgé, Creative Producer of Crying Out Loud
- Barney White, Co-founder and Creative Director of Arcojou
- Billy Alwen & Claire Hodgson, Co-Artistic Director of Extraordinary Bodies
- Hsiao-Lei Li, Associate professor of National Taiwan college of Performing Arts
- Tai-Jung Yu, Dramaturg of Formosa Circus Art，Yuan-Ching
- Yuan-Ching Yang & Kai-Hsuan Hsu, Taiwan Street Arts and Culture Development Association