What does it mean to pass on knowledge—and how can circus arts shape the way we teach, care, and create?

In this episode of Crossing Voices, we dive into the world of circus education through the voices of two artists who are reimagining how skills and values are transmitted across generations.

Host Maaike Muis brings together Danka Sekulović, based in Serbia and active within the self-organised collective Cirkusfera, and Saar Rombout, a Dutch artist teaching in Stockholm and Rotterdam. Both explore the tensions between traditional and contemporary aesthetics, offering fresh perspectives on what it means to teach in today’s circus landscape.

From activist pedagogy to creative rigging, their work challenges conventional models and embraces alternative approaches rooted in care, autonomy, and innovation. Whether navigating political pressure, burnout, or the everyday rituals that sustain community—like sharing coffee—their stories reveal how teaching can be both a technical and deeply human act.

Through their practices, we glimpse a future of circus education that is bold, inclusive, and grounded in the lived realities of those who shape it.

Interview, edit, VoiceOver: Maaike Muis

Production: Kinga Kesces for Circostrada

music: Blue dot sessions

more info and resources: circostrada.org

The final day at the Hippodrome of FRESH STREET #5 has begun with a truly special keynote from the legendary Brian Eno who will spark some inspiration in a dynamic and powerful session. After that, a panel of artists and cultural professionals have taken the stage to unpack how artists are responding to today’s and the future’s global and economic challenges. How do creativity and resilience shape artistic practice in uncertain times? The roundtable discussion has united Seraina De Block (BE), Lucia Dubačová (SK) Ed Gillespie (UK), Mimi Lam (HK), Peter John Sabbagha (SA), Michael Sauter (US). This session was facilitated by Julia Von Wild (DE).

The Live Radio was hosted by Dorothy Max Prior.

FRESH STREET #5 continued on its second day at the Hippodrome with a keynote by Vicki Dela Amedume, offering insights into communities and places, from her perspective as an artist. Then, a panel of artists and cultural professionals will come together to share ideas on how inclusive artistic practices can strengthen community connections, elevate a range of voices, and respond creatively to today’s social challenges. The roundtable gathered Tatiana-Mosio Bongonga & Jan Naerts (FR), Luke Horley (BE, FR, UK), Antonia Kuzmanić (HR), Alicia Laguna (ME), Jacqui Mackay (UK), Luis Petit & Prisca Villa (ES). This session was facilitated by Sho Shibata (UK).

Welcome to Great Yarmouth!

We have started the first day with welcome words from the teams at Out There Arts UK, ARTCENA/ Circostrada, and Arts Council England, kicking off three days of conversations around Place, People, and the Future of outdoor arts.

Then, six artists and cultural pros have explored the evolution of outdoor arts, its relationship with places, and its revolutionary spark. Is there a connection between popular entertainment and political art? The roundtable have united Chiva Bons (NL), Alba Colombo Vilarrasa (ES), Eddie Egal (DE), Paka Johnson (UK), Smriti Rajgarhia (IN), Do Verschragen (NL). The session was facilitated by Alexis Nys (FR).

The FRESH STREET #5 live radio was hosted by Dorothy Max Prior.

What does it mean to belong—and how can art help us get there?

In this episode of Crossing Voices, we explore placemaking through the eyes of migrant artists who use outdoor arts to build bridges between communities.

Host Maaike Muis brings together Dulce Duca, a Portuguese circus artist based in the UK and featured at the Out There Festival in Great Yarmouth, and Paulina Almeida, a Portugal-based artist involved in the MagiC Carpets platform. Both draw on their own experiences of migration to create projects that centre inclusion, diversity, and shared humanity.

From festivals to residencies, their from refugee camps to local café’s their work shows how temporary performances can leave lasting social impact—transforming public spaces into places of connection, care, and collective identity.

Crossing Voices – Linking European and international perspectives in contemporary circus and outdoor arts is designed to highlight the voices of key players in these sectors. This podcast is part of the red thread followed by Circostrada’s new project, CS Voices, fostering ongoing dialogue on pressing issues and inspiring meaningful change in the arts and policymaking for a more inclusive and sustainable cultural landscape.

Production: Circostrada – Kinga Kecskes & Maaike Muis

Music: Blue Dot Sessions 

More info & resources: circostrada.org

The magic of the big top is undeniable, but what does it really take to create, produce, and tour under one?

In this episode of Crossing Voices, we explore the unique challenges and opportunities of staging performances in temporary circus tents.

To set the stage, Déborah Boeno, co-author of The Big Top Guide with Axel Satgé, as well as of a case study through the prism of eco-responsibility on the BIAC festival, introduces us to the fascinating world of big tops, where artistry meets logistical complexity.

Host Maaike Muis then brings together Julien Auger from Circus I Love You and Luke Hallgarten from the British company Revel Puck to discuss the intricate balance between tradition and innovation in contemporary circus. From financial and administrative hurdles to the raw realities of self-producing, they share honest insights and practical advice on what it takes to bring contemporary circus to life under canvas. At the end of this episode, you might also discover why it is better to not own cows...

Crossing Voices – Linking European and international perspectives in contemporary circus and outdoor arts is designed to highlight the voices of key players in these sectors. This podcast is part of the red thread followed by Circostrada’s new project, CS Voices, fostering ongoing dialogue on pressing issues and inspiring meaningful change in the arts and policymaking for a more inclusive and sustainable cultural landscape.

Production: Circostrada – Kinga Kecskes & Maaike Muis

Music: Blue Dot Sessions / Mixing-mastering Marius Kooy

More info & resources: circostrada.org

Art is a powerful tool for change, and this first episode of Crossing Voices explores just that. For its first episode ever, host Maaike Muis brings together Sergi Estebanel from Spain and South African artist-activist Tandile Mbathsa to discuss how art and activism intersect. Listen to Sergi speaking about transforming public spaces through rituals, while Tandile highlights the daily struggles of being Black, queer, and gender non-conforming in South Africa, using performance as a vessel for social change.

Crossing Voices – Linking European and international perspectives in contemporary circus and outdoor arts is designed to highlight the voices of key players in the contemporary circus and outdoor arts sectors. This podcast is part of the read-thread followed by Circostrada's new project, CS Voices. The podcast aims to foster a continuous dialogue on current issues, bringing together diverse perspectives to inspire meaningful change in both the arts and policymaking, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable cultural landscape.

Production: Circostrada- Kinga Kecskes & Maaike Muis

Music: Blue dot sessions

more info and resources check: circostrada.org

Next episode January 2025. Follow and subscribe to be the first to hear it.

The second day of FRESH 2023 was dedicated to the concept of safety in the arts started during a morning session at Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde. We had the pleasure of hosting a roundtable discussion with the facilitation of Chrissie Faniadis gathering Isabel Joly, Juhyung Lee, Clive Lyttle and Elisabeth Efua Sutherland, during which we have explored the importance of creating and maintaining safe creative spaces in order to regenerate the performing arts sector in general, and the circus and arts in the public space in particular.

On the third and last day of FRESH 2023 - International Event for the Development of Contemporary Circus and Outdoor Arts, we have explored the concept of sustainability. The day started with a morning session organised in partnership with De Rue De Cirque, inside the big top of Village de cirque festival.

To open the session we had Eric lenoir, landscape designer, and author, who invited us to reflect on how we can integrate systems of cooperation that are omnipresent in ecosystems into our ways of creating and working.

Marija Baranauskaitė Liberman and Andrea Salustri continued the journey via a 30-minute conversation on their mutual artistic practices through the lens of sustainability.

We also had the pleasure to host a roundtable discussion with the facilitation of Gwendolenn Sharp gathering Danielle Devery, Joris Janssens, Théo Mouzard (Collectif Etc), Olle Strandberg Colling, and Jin Yim who shared ideas about how solidarity and cooperation can foster a more holistic approach to sustainabilit

The second day of FRESH 2023 was dedicated to the concept of safety in the arts started during a morning session at Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde. We had Guillaume Dupuis, associate professor at Université Paris-Saclay who had introduced the concept of safety with an inspiring and powerful keynote. Darya Efrat and Osian Meilir have continued the journey via an artistic talk.