Hand to hand is an exploratory project for European circus, which aims to create experimentation, learning spaces and intersection between different sectors of activity - and their traditional gestures and knowledge - to question and explore the context of social ecology.

Facing the ecological issues and challenges, contemporary circus sector, as well as culture in general, continues to evolve in its practices. It is challenged to implement more sustainable and ethical collaboration and methodologies that can contribute to a change in behavior. This approach implies the development of a renewed set of skills, aiming to develop new creative, scientific and collaborative approaches, contrary to academic and professional training in circus, which usually favors technical skills.

Through a sequential journey of four exploratory actions, followed by four immersive residencies, Hand to hand offers space for experimentation as the result of an intersectoral collaboration, including cultural and creative industries, researchers in ecology and art, as well as private companies in France, Croatia, Denmark and Portugal.

The call for circus artists will select 16 participants, whose artistic profile aligns with the project's premises, to participate in a workshop in Chalons-en-Champagne (July 2023) from which the 8 artists selected to integrate the co-creation stage and Hand to hand investigation, between summer 2023 and spring 2025.

Applications are open until May 30, 2023.

More information about conditions and application is available HERE.

BETA CIRCUS is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, being promoted by Le Palc (FR), Bússola (PT), Room 100 (HR) and Helsingor Theater (DK) in association with Artcena/Circostrada (FR), Institut Français (FR), CNAC (FR), 23 Milhas/Municipality of Ílhavo (PT) and Furies (FR).