The participants for the networking trip to Circusstad Festival 2024 organised by Circus and Dance Info Finland, the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland and the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux have been selected. The participants for the trip were selected through an open call announced in March.
The selected participants for the trip are Merri Heikkilä, circus artist at The Nordic Council, Milla Länsiö, circus artist, Kaj-Mikael Schütt, circus artist and entrepreneur at Sirkussirkus and Sanna Silvennoinen, freelance director at Circo Aereo. They receive travel support to attend Circusstad Festival and its professional event, the Dutch Circus Showcase, which includes discussions, performances, pitches and meetings with local circus and performing arts actors.
Additionally, the following will be joining the trip: Rauli Dahlberg, circus artist and artistic director at Race Horse Company, Salla Kurronen, executive producer at Cirko – Center for New Circus, Sari Lakso, managing director at Kallo Collective, Miia Pajarinen, executive producer at Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth and Liina Selvinen, circus artist.
During the networking trip, the participants will also have the chance to meet Henri Kangas, circus artist at Jam Shenanigans (NL), Adrian Berry, artistic director at Jacksons Lane (UK), Veera Kaukoranta, agent at AB JOY (BE). From Circuscentrum (BE), director Noemi De Clercq and head of international relations Séverine Van der Stighelen will be present.
The participants were selected by a working group consisting of Lotta Nevalainen, Head of International Development at Circus and Dance Info Finland, Malin Bergström, Head of Programme at the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux and Karoliina Korpilahti, Programme Director (Arts) at the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland. The participants were chosen based on the applications and the expertise of the applicants.
“We had a good amount of high-quality applicants in different stages of their careers for the open call, and we are happy to see so many professionals interested in the fantastic opportunities Circusstad has to offer. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and hearing more about their practices and to see how they connect with the circus scene in the Netherlands. The project is a wonderful collaboration between our institute and our fellow institute in the UK and Ireland as well as Circus and Dance Finland, and will hopefully sow seeds for future partnerships and creative adventures,” says Malin Bergström, who will also be attending the trip to connect with circus professionals from Finland and the Benelux region.
The trip takes place from the 2nd to the 5th of May, 2024.
Photo: Jona Harnischmacher / Circusstad Festival.
More information
Malin Bergström, Head of Programme
The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux
+358 40 715 1434
malin.bergstrom@finncult.be
Lotta Nevalainen, Head of International Development
Circus and Dance Info Finland
+358 50 303 8339
lotta.nevalainen@circusdance.fi