Contemporary circus has experienced a structural development in Germany in a very short time like hardly any other form of performing arts. Through its accessible and non-verbal way of dealing with socially relevant issues, it holds enormous potential for social discourse and promotes proximity to culture. Current funding practice is geared towards model projects and short project funding periods, but in the future, these must be supported by comprehensive, sustainable, and far-sighted structures. The symposium "Setting the Stage - Circus Funding of Tomorrow" provided the impetus for this. Keynote speeches by representatives from cultural policy, funding institutions and associations stimulated discussion about perspectives and possibilities for the contemporary circus of tomorrow.
Moderated by Sören Fenner (actor, lecturer, founder of Theapolis), various actors from associations and cultural politics will meet and discuss perspectives and possibilities for the contemporary circus of tomorrow.
Dr. Nicola Hülskamp Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
Barbara Foerster Cultural Office of the City of Cologne
Steffen Klewar Performing Arts Fund
Manfred Stoffl Goethe-Institut
Jenny Patschovsky Federal Association of Contemporary Circus e.V.
Sören Fenner Moderation