Conference programme

Join us for an inspiring evening at the opening of the conference. Your host of the evening will be Dorien Leyers. The opening night features keynote speakers Franziska Trapp and Gaia Vimercati and a presentation of the Flemish project on safety.

• Franziska Trapp “I believe I can fly” “I believe she could fall”. Contemporary Circus Dramaturgy and the Perception of Risk.
• Safety in Flanders

• Gaia Vimercati 'Queering the Leadership in circus: what do we need? What can we achieve?'

  We are honored to welcome Minister-President Jan Jambon to our opening night.

Workshops (make your choice)

• Creative Rigging in Circus by Saar Rombout (full)
• ‘Flag System’ – a tool for assessing transgressive behaviour by ENGAGEMENT ARTS
• Prevention, first aid and rehab for acute soft tissue injury: The Circus Way by Inne, Kriz and Wim
• Trauma-informed approach by Mieke Gielen

Workshops (make your choice)

• RIGGERS Closing Event by SKH and FEDEC
• Consent in Practice: Tools & Benefits by Madonna Lenaert
• Creating Safer Spaces: a workshop for (circus festival) organizers
• Monitoring the health and wellbeing of circus artists by Marion Cossin (CRITAC) and Janine Stubbe (Codarts)

Grand public opening MAD Festival (MAD Festival site, Asiadok-Westkaai, 2030 Antwerp)

Be surprised by an abundance of circus and musical flash performances to officially open MAD Festival with a bang!

MAD Festival programme: don't miss the shows on the opening night of the festival! More info on MAD Festival website. Tickets to shows are not included in the conference fee. As a professional you can enjoy a sector discount for which you will need to request an accredition by registering as a professional via MAD Festival website.

• 18h-19h Circumstances - 'Glorious Bodies | MAD Festival Site - red and white tent
• 19h30-21h Circus Ronaldo - 'Da Capo' | MAD Festival Site - white tent
• 21h15-22h25 Circa - 'Humans 2.0' | MAD Festival Site - burgundy tent
  

Immersive workshops (make your choice) on different locations (see workshop descriptions)

• In riggers’ shoes by Jan Naets and Noé Robert(full)
• Self Defense workshop by Plan SACHA
• First step into mental safe(r) spaces on stage and beyond it: recognizing danger and speaking up! by Miradonna Sirkka and Amanda Homa

• Physical ways to improve your mental vitality by Bjorn Fierens

Poster gallery walk

Discover unique perspectives, approaches, and learnings on technical, psychosocial, or physical safety from the international community!

Closing panel with the international networks Circostrada, FEDEC, EYCO and Caravan Circus Network

During the closing panel, we look back at the learnings of the conference and look ahead to the future for a safer circus.

MAD Festival (MAD Festival site, Asiadok-Westkaai, 2030 Antwerp). More info on MAD Festival website. Tickets to shows are not included in the conference fee. Tickets to shows are not included in the conference fee. As a professional you can enjoy a sector discount for which you will need to request an accredition by registering as a professional via MAD Festival website.

• 18h-19h MAD Generation | MAD Festival Site - red and white tent
• 19h-21h Circus Ronaldo - 'Da Capo' | MAD Festival Site - white tent
• 21h-22h25 Circa - 'Humans 2.0' | MAD Festival Site - burgundy tent