Zirkus ONboard: opening presentations
Welcome to the Zirkus ON Community!
Shortly after the jury decision, Zirkus ON, in cooperation with an alliance partner, invites the Alliance and its network to the opening presentations.
The opening presentations provide an opportunity for the newly selected artists and the Zirkus ON network to get acquainted, a process that will continue for two years as part of the creation programme. The aim is to establish personal connections which can provide support during the creation process. The newly selected projects present their idea, their artistic approach, their research and their plans within a maximum of 10 minutes to a select audience of experts comprised of the alliance partners, cooperation partners and the other chosen artists. In a further moderated 10 minutes, the artists have the opportunity to answer questions from the expert audience about their creation in a safe setting. The format of the opening presentations may be freely adapted and is intended to encourage the artists to present their artistic project in a communicative, relatable and inviting "language".
Following the opening presentations, the professional audience is invited to continue the dialog with the artists at eye level and to get to know each other personally through activities led by Zirkus ON.
The format has to date been developed and implemented by Zirkus ON in close cooperation with the following alliance partners: Festival Perspectives, Ruhrfestspiele, CircusDanceFestival Köln.
The Role of Mentors
The mentors play an essential role in preparing the artistic teams for the opening presentations. They encourage the artist groups to find their own style and unique characteristics and to develop the appropriate vocabulary to talk to professionals about their artistic work and often fledgling ideas. The opening presentations are usually a challenging experience for the artists, who are only at the beginning of their creative process, to create clarity about their concept and goals and force them to take on the perspective of the (professional) audience. The support of the mentor creates a learning effect.
Presentation vs. Pitching Session?
The opening presentations differ from pitching sessions in that the focus lies on personal encounters and the learning effect rather than the commercial aspect.
Even if the presentations facilitate additional resource, the presentations primarily help the project team take further conceptual steps and create lasting bonds and support over a longer period of time. The early access to the professional scene enables experts to follow the development of an artistic project from the initial idea to the premiere of the performance - this is what is special about the creation programme. From this point on, the projects are not only accompanied by the Zirkus ON programme team and the mentors, but also by the creative alliance. They become part of the community.
The Question Always With Us:
How big can the audience be in order to bind as many professionals to the project as possible and still ensure a protected setting and enable personal encounters?
