Seminar

04/06/25
14h-17h30

Facing these ecological issues, the contemporary circus sector, as well as the cultural sector in general, needs to redefine its practices. It raises the question whether to concretely translate the implementation of more sustainable and ethical means into collaboration and how to contribute to a change in behaviour. This approach thus implies the development of a new set of capacities to train artists in new artistic, scientific and collaborative approaches, when initial circus training often prioritises technical skills.
The hypothesis chosen for Hand to hand, is to create new cooperation and new modes of understanding through social ecology where art - more specifically contemporary circus-
in public space can contribute to the transition of our sector, transforming its artistic and methodological practices.
So , how can we integrate social ecology into our cultural and artistic practices? How can we engage, involve and cooperate more? What are the best practices, what concrete actions, how can we mobilise our time and our performance spaces, rethink our organisations and support for artistic work to bring about an ecological transformation?

This session was based on the example of the Hand to hand project in the contemporary circus sector. Through a plenary discussion and three interactive workshops, participants (Cultural operators, artists and researchers, private companies) contributed to the development of a methodology for cross-sector collaboration in favour of sustainability and share good practice for a social ecology project.

SPEAKERS :
Solweig Barbier, Executive Director, ARVIVA – Performing Arts, Sustainable Arts (FR),
Nathalie Blanc, Director of Research, CNRS (FR),
Alice Bonnot, Consultant, Julie’s Bicycle (UK),
Jens Frimann Hansen, Director, Helsingør Theater (DK),
Magali Sizorn, Associate Professor, UFR STAPS, University of Rouen (FR),
Jean-Marie Songy, Director, Furies Festival and Le Palc (FR)
Facilitator : Fanny Bordier, European manager HT (FR)

WORKSHOPS
1. What are the best practices for establishing cross-sector collaborations (such as an artist residency within a company ?
animated by Fanny Bordier
2. What concrete actions can a cultural operator or an art school take to integrate the social-ecological dimension ?
animated by Alice Bonnot
3. How can we think about engagement practices in terms of the organisation of artistic work ? What transformative issues can we identify for a social ecology project ?
animated by Nathalie Blanc and Magali Sizorn

SEMINAR CLOSING ECHOES AND PERSPECTIVES

Two voices, two experiences : two witnesses shared their reflections and offer new perspectives for the future.

Valérie Ruffin, Administrative, Financial, and Human Resources Director at Canson, Fila Arches, private firm, partner of HTH
Lauren Boudard, Journalist and editor in chief of CLIMAX magazine