We invited circus artists to a series of open, held spaces for discussion – driven by topics that they were focusing on during the Covid-19 Lockdown.

Upswing’s Slow Thinking is a series of collective, online conversations that respond to, and are driven by, the needs of the circus sector. These conversations were free to attend and served as an open space for individuals working in the circus sector – freelance artists, educators, producers, directors and technicians – as well as circus organisations.

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Session Archive:

Session 7: Tools and Strategies to Look After Performers’ and Creatives’ Mental Health In The Rehearsal Process
March 2022

Co-Organised with Mimbre

Looking after performers’ and creatives’ mental health feels more important now than ever. Mimbre and Upswing have come together to organise a Slow Thinking session specifically aimed at circus artists, creatives, directors and producers, in order to share concrete tools and strategies to build a supportive and caring rehearsal and creation process.

Watch Session 7

Read the meeting summary (PDF) 

Session 6: Creating Circus In Extraordinary Times
November 2020

Read the meeting summary (PDF)

Read the meeting summary (WORD DOC)

Session 5: Circus Snapshot
July 2020

Circus Snapshot is a qualitative research project which was completed prior to lockdown in February 2020.  Commissioned by Crying Out Loud, funded by Arts Council England and led by Daisy Drury, its aim is to draw together the professional, subsidised circus sector and to begin to create new pathways for its development.

Crying Out Loud are now inviting people to register to stay connected with Circus Snapshot and find out more about the 8 refreshed Missions and 2 Sector Support Groups that emerged following the meeting. Our next collective steps are to shape the conversations from Slow Thinking into deeper discussions and to find actions we can take forward to strengthen the circus sector across its many facets. 

Visit the Circus Snapshot Website

Session 4: Horizon Scanning
June 2020

Slow Thinking 4 continued to deepen the discussion around the processes of creating work. The session was split into two groups, with participants deciding which group they wanted to attend.

Circus Artist Angeliki Meli drew on personal experience to host a group in considering the strategies of creating work at a distance or online, focusing on process rather than product. Participants were encouraged to bring and discuss works-in-progress. Kate Webb facilitated a conversation on the ways we can equip artists for an uncertain future in a relevant and responsive way, asking ‘We don’t know how long our sector will take to recover so what skills are important? How do we articulate what we do and what we know to the wider sector?’.

The session welcomed training providers, as well as emerging artists, graduates and students.

Watch Session 4 (A) – Creating Online

Watch Session 4 (B) – Training Artists of the Future

View the one-pager summary of Session 4 (A)
View the one-pager summary of Session 4 (B) 

Session 3: FUTURE THINKING
May 2020

Session 3 focused on The Future – big topic! We shifted the structure of the conversation slightly and plan to host ‘breakout rooms’. These breakouts encompassed the various strands we’ve touched upon so far: audiences & engagement, creation & digital, learning & development and what the future may look like for shows in venues.

Watch Session 3 (A) – Creation in the Digital Space

Watch Session 3 (B) – Training Artists for the Future

Watch Session 3 (C) – Digital R&D

Session 2: QUALITY & CREATION IN THE DIGITAL SPACE
May 2020

Session 2 asked “What are the qualities and needs of work online or on the screen?”. We explored this in terms of work for the screen, and in terms of curation or creating in the digital space:
Circus and Film : What does quality mean and what does it look like? What features become significant – choreography and circus skills? Production and framing? Concept and story?  
Circus and Digital : What are the creative possibilities of Circus in the digital space?

This session included contributions and provocations from: Donna Close, creative director and cultural strategist; Joumana Mourad, IJAD Dance; Raphael Herault & Summer Hubbard, Double Take Cinematic Circus; and Mark Morreau, cinematographer & digital artist.

Watch Session 2

View the One-Pager Summary of Session 2

Session 1: CIRCUS AT A DISTANCE
April 2020

In our first session, we explored circus at a distance. The current situation has forced us to think about what happens when we are unable to share live collective experiences. What are the alternatives that satisfy the needs we have for community, for watching circus, learning and for developing new ideas? 

This session included contributions and provocations from: Kate Hartoch, Circus City Festival; Amelia Cavallo, Quiplash; Charlie Wheeller, NetFLIPS; Mark Morreau, Cinematographer and Digital Artist; Rapael Herault and Summer Hubbard; and Joe Fearn, CircusMASH. 

Watch Session 1

View the One-Pager Summary of Session 1