Go back Photos: A look back on “Circus for Climate” October laboratories
23.11.2022.
During this autumn break, the laboratories dedicated to climate change and art activisms of the international art project for youngsters “Circus for Climate” took place with the themes: Movement, environment and activism.
Laboratory #2 took place this year from October 21 to October 24 in “Ratnieki”, Cēsis region.
Laboratory #3 took place from October 25 to October Con28.10.22 in Stāmeriena’s Palace, Gulbene region.
Content of the laboratories
In these laboratories, youngsters between the ages of 13 and 17 from the regions of Riga, Vidzeme and North Latgale participated in activities created by “Acting for Climate” in collaboration with artists from Latvia. This was a chance for them all together to look into the contemporary world of circus and dance and to learn various acrobatic and body exercises, as well as to get to know different theater techniques, which can be used as tools to talk about climate change topics.
These games, activities and training both indoors and outdoors are used as a way to discuss, observe and learn to look at the surrounding environment in order to connect with nature and its processes.
The activities of the laboratories were led by circus artists and environmental activists Emma Langmoen and Frøydis Dahlø from “Acting for Climate”, as well as circus and dance artists from Latvia – Alise Bokaldere and Aleksej Smolov, joined by the composer Kaspars Kurdeko.
Photo credits to: Lauris Vīksne
A fruitful interaction between the youngsters and artists was formed, breaking down the usual “teacher – student” hierarchy.
For example, at the end of the laboratory, with all the newly acquired knowledge, the youngsters took on the role of directors, and as a result of this process, a jointly created performance about humanity, climate and the future was created. Fragments from this process will serve as inspiration for the upcoming final performance at the end of the project.
Physical lessons were altered with theoretical lectures. One of them thematically outlined what climate change is and what creates a desire to change in society, led by artist and environmental activist Frøydis Dahlø.
The lecture encouraged discussions on climate change topics and possible solutions.
This lecture was complemented by the guest speaker, a WWF Latvia volunteer and youth activist Beate Anna Klepere, who led an inspiring conversation about how change is formed and what the youngsters can do already now to get involved in the processes of change.
VIDEO
Video credits to: Uvis Leskavnieks
Music credits to: Kaspars Kurdeko
“Circus for Climate” upcoming activities in 2023:
In March 2023, the next laboratories are planned with the theme: “Movement, environment and activism”, which will take place in Kurzeme, Latvia.
These laboratories will also be aimed at youngsters aged 14 to 18 from regions in Latvia. Applications will open in January 2023.
In March 2023, a two-day “audience development” workshop, lead by artists from “Acting for Climate”, will also be held in Kurzeme, aimed at working professionals in the cultural sector .
The next stages of the project:
The laboratories from mid-April will be followed by a month-long creative residency with circus and dance artists, which is organised with the aim to work on the new performance based on the ideas developed during the project.
At the final stage of this project in May 2023, contemporary circus and dance artists from Latvia and Norway will create a performance based in the ideas on climate change and activisms expressed by the youngsters. As additional and educational material for the perfomance, a zine (a small-edition, short-format magazine) will also be made in the style of a comic book.
The performance will be created by the Norwegian artists from “Acting for Climate” in collaborating with contemporary dance and circus artists from Latvia – Alise Bokaldere, Aleksej Smolov, Maija Sukute and composer Kaspars Kurdeko.
In the meantime, visual artists and the leaders of the first laboratory, Ingrīda Pičukāne and Vivianna Maria Stanislavska, will develop the zine in a comic book style also based in the ideas expressed by the youngsters during the laboratories.
The performance and the zine will be created with the aim of creatively promote greener and more sustainable thinking among youngsters in different regions of Latvia, as well as encouraging young people to become more active in society’s processes as a whole.
The final performance and the zine of the project will be released at the end of May 2023, in Riga.
You can follow the project’s activities on the “Circus for Climate” Instagram account, where you can learn more about the progress of the project’s laboratories, our findings and recommendations on climate topics.
The project has been created with the support of the European Economic Area (EEA) Grants Financial Mechanism funding period 2014. – 2021. programme “Local Development, Poverty Reduction, and Cultural Cooperation” open call “Support for the Creation of Professional Art and Cultural Products for Children and Youth”.
The project’s total eligible costs are 231 636 euros. The project Nr.EEZ/2021/1/16 “Circus for Climate” created by SLLC “Rīgas cirks” in collaboration with “Acting for Climate” benefits from a financing of 196 890.65 euros from Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway EEA Grants and 34 745.42 euros from national co-financing. The project’s realisation period is from 1 March 2022 until 31 July 2023.
Find out more about the project HERE
Find out more about EEA Grants HERE
