LEADERSHIP IN CIRCUS CONFERENCE - 19th-20th June, Riga

On June 19-20, 2024 Rīgas cirks hosted the closing event of the New Horizons Leadership Programme (NHLP-EU) with a conference "LEADERSHIP IN CIRCUS"!

The conference will brought together the partners and participants in the project, as well as regional and local community of professionals. Over the two days, we shared insights from the project, as well as visions for the future of circus leadership in Europe.

Here is a short film with snippets and reflections from the conference:

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Leadership in Circus Conference Aftermovie

REGISTRATION

Closed.

PROGRAM 

(all the times are indicated in EET, Riga time) and all the activities will happen at Rīgas cirks (Merkela Street 4)

WEDNESDAY 19th June 

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Registration

1:30 PM - 1:45 PM Opening of the conference. Welcome address by Programme Directors introducing the New Horizon Leadership Programme EU by Lina B. Frank (Cirkus Syd) and Mara Pavula (Rīgas cirks)

1:45 PM - 2:30 PM Keynote Speech

BURN BRIGHT, DON’T BURN OUT! THE ROLE OF COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP IN THE ARTS. Helen Cole, Artistic Director/Co-CEO & Helen Davies, Co-CEO; In Between Time, UK

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM Coffee Break

2:45 PM - 3:05 PM Keynote Speech

CREATE WITH AND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. HOMO NOVUS FESTIVAL'S TAKE ON SUSTAINABILITY. Santa Remere, NTIL Artistic Director, “Homo Novus” Festival Co-Curator and “DemArt” Project Coordinator; New Theatre Institute of Latvia/Homo Novus, LV

3:10 PM - 3:30 PM Keynote Speech

EQUALITY AND JOY - VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP IN SOCIAL CIRCUS. THE CASE OF SIRKUS MAGENTA. Silja Kyytinen, Founder/Trainer/Director; Sirkus Magenta, FI

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM Coffee Break and Networking

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM In This Together icebreaker. Sophie Zoletnik, HU

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Workshops *parallel work sessions, each participant can attend only one of the workshops

Shine On. Helen Cole & Helen Davies / In Between Time, UK

Sustainability ABC. Santa Remere / NTIL and Homo Novus, LV Risk Assessment and Management in Art and Culture Projects. Sandis Voldiņš / The Latvian National Opera and Ballet, LV

Advocacy Through Circus Arts. Antonia Kuzmanić / Peculiar Families circus festival, HR

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Informal Reception/Networking

7:00 PM Performance “MUDO - Comedia Bufa” by Cronopio (LV, ARG)

THURSDAY 20th June 

9:00 AM - 9:25 AM Registration

9:25 AM - 9:30 AM Welcome words/ Schedule of the day

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Case studies presentations: "Innovations in Circus Arts Leadership"

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM Coffee Break

11:15 AM - 12:30 AM Roundtable Discussions: "Future Directions for Leadership in Circus Arts"

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Lunch Break

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Artistic reflections on the NHLP-EU program

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Closing Keynote by Tilde Björfors

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM Coffee Break

4:00 PM - 6:30 PM Feedback session with fellows and experts (only for NHLP-EU program participants)

KEYNOTE SPEECH TOPICS 

BURN BRIGHT, DON’T BURN OUT! THE ROLE OF COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP IN THE ARTS. Helen Cole, Artistic Director/Co-CEO & Helen Davies, Co-CEO; In Between Time, UK

This keynote presentation from Helen Cole and Helen Davies, co-leaders of In Between Time, focuses on the dynamic intersection of collaborative leadership and sustainability within the arts. In this session, they delve into the transformative potential of collaborative leadership as a driving force.

As stewards of creativity, how do we hold strong, remain courageous, foster artistic innovation, whilst recognising the profound impact our actions have on each other, the planet and future generations? Through collaborative endeavors and visionary leadership, we will embark on a journey to reimagine the arts as a globally connected catalyst for positive change. Together, we will explore strategies, pitfalls, insights, and inspirations that illuminate the path towards a more sustainable and resilient artistic ecosystem. Join us as we forge a brighter, more vibrant, more caring future for each other, the arts and our planet.

CREATE WITH AND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. HOMO NOVUS FESTIVAL'S TAKE ON THE SUSTAINABILITY. Santa Remere, NTIL Artistic Director, “Homo Novus” festival co-curator and “DemArt” project coordinator; New Theatre Institute of Latvia/Homo Novus, LV

Introducing the festival Homo Novus and its journey through climate awareness and sustainability practices. Sharing local experience of curating internationally under constantly changing conditions. How to act and react while aiming for environmentally friendly and accessible events and challenging the idea of slow, but persistent activism.

EQUALITY AND JOY - VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP IN SOCIAL CIRCUS, CASE OF SIRKUS MAGENTA. Silja Kyytinen, Founder/ Trainer/ Director; Sirkus Magenta, FI

Silja, the Director and a founder of Sirkus Magenta will talk about the associations’ path from a tiny new organisation in 2011 to a vibrant social circus with its brand new space opened in Helsinki this year. Silja will elaborate on how Magenta’s motto: Circus for All and its core values: community, equality, wellbeing and joy are rooted into the activities as well as the leadership / organisational model of Sirkus Magenta.

 WORKSHOP TOPICS 

InThisTogether icebreaker. Sophie Zoletnik, HU

The workshop explores trust and collective responsibility. We’ll play with light and darkness and with movement in space. You will be invited to express personal statements, negotiate collective decisions and explore group formation and dynamics. The workshop is open to all attendees and no prerequisites are necessary.

Shine On. Helen Cole & Helen Davies / In Between Time, UK

An informal workshop using writing, thinking, dancing and sharing, inviting participants to collaborate, explore and test new and transformational leadership practices for a brighter, more vibrant, caring future for the Arts.

Taking us from burnout to burn bright through our collaborative leadership models, sharing our matriarchal practices and learning from nature’s forest ecosystems.

Sustainability ABC. Santa Remere / NTIL and Homo Novus, LV

In this workshop we explore The Alphabet of Sustainability. Through shared conversations, we will exchange experiences, and share practical examples, ideas, and ingenious solutions that help shift the practices of artists and organizations towards ecological sustainability. We will evaluate which habits we can let go of, in order to collectively postpone the end of the world.

Risk Assessment and Management in Art and Culture Projects. Sandis Voldiņš / The Latvian National Opera and Ballet, LV

This workshop is intended specifically for project managers in the art and culture sector, and aims to enhance their skills in identifying, assessing, describing and managing risks associated with various projects, such as financial risks, risks related to local and national regulations, logistics, operations, and partners/stakeholders in a project. Participants will learn basic strategies to conduct risks assessments, identify potential project pitfalls and skillfully incorporate risk descriptions into project proposals.

Advocacy Through Circus Arts. Antonia Kuzmanić / Peculiar Families circus festival, HR

In this workshop we explore the capacity of circus to function as a conduit for advocacy. We ask:  can circus function as a vehicle for empowerment and social change? How can we merge the imperative to address global injustices through local actions, Instagram sharing and using our roles as contemporary circus artists, producers, and practitioners? We will explore the history of circus front this perspective and collaboratively imagine and explore strategies and actions for our collective future.

ABOUT KEYNOTE SPEAKERS 

Helen Cole  Artistic Director/Co-CEO - In Between Time (she/her) 

Helen is the Founder, Artistic Director, and Co-CEO of In Between Time, which she started in 2009, and the influential In Between Time International Festivals (2001-2021).

Helen is a radical thinker, innovator, and visionary dreamer with 30 years of experience of leadership in the arts and cultural sector in the UK and internationally. Her expertise includes strategic cultural leadership and programme planning and design. She leads inspirational projects including sectoral, infrastructure and artistic work, and the establishment of new organisations, and nationally and internationally significant initiatives. Helen believes the arts can change the world and artists are vital to our future. For Helen, working locally and collaboratively with a global perspective are vital to culture, and she works to promote equity, inclusion, access, sustainability, well-being and lifelong learning. https://inbetweentime.co.uk/

 

Helen Davies  Co-CEO - In Between Time  (she/her) 

Since 2020, Helen Davies has been Co-CEO for In Between Time. She is a dedicated arts leader with over 30 years’ experience working across formal and informal education, multi-disciplined cultural organisations and historic and contemporary collections, among which Artes Mundi, The National Museums and Galleries of Wales and Arnolfini International Contemporary Arts Centre. She has extensive experience in organisational leadership, building exemplary teams, strategy and development, pedagogy, audience engagement, recognising and optimising the diversity of partners and stakeholders. Helen is passionate about democratising leadership and collaboration, seeing audiences as partners in a shared journey of cultural enrichment. She believes organisational relevance lies in discovering new voices and being open to be changed by them. https://inbetweentime.co.uk/

Santa Remere  Artistic Director - New Theater Institute of Latvia   Co-curator - Homo Novus Festival  Project Coordinator - DemArt (she/her) 

Santa is the new Artistic Director of the New Theatre Institute of Latvia (NTIL) and curator of the International Contemporary Theatre Festival Homo Novus. She has an education in visual communication (Waseda University, Tama Art University in Tokyo) and has worked extensively as a publicist, art and literature critic, and editor of the online magazine “Satori.” Santa has been involved in various NTIL projects since 2015, primarily developing artistic participation projects for youth and other underrepresented groups in the cultural sphere. In her new tenure at NTIL, Santa is focusing on innovative contemporary performing arts, promoting the visibility, agency and inclusivity for marginalised social groups, and improving and strengthening access to culture for diverse audiences. https://theatre.lv/eng/

 

Silja Kyytinen  Founder and Director - Sirkus Magenta (she/her) 

Silja is the Founder and Director of Sirkus Magenta, a social circus association active since 2011 and based in Helsinki. Silja is experienced social circus trainer and pedagogue, with a background working regularly with people of varying physical and mental abilities such as the elderly, people with disabilities and mental health issues.

With Silja at its helm, Sirkus Magenta works towards an equal and communal world, promoting social inclusion and wellbeing of people of all ages and abilities. Silja believes in interdisciplinary collaborations, and Sirkus Magenta is well connected both nationally and internationally, working closely with different partners from the art, health and social fields.  https://sirkusmagenta.fi/

Tilde Björfors Founder and former Artistic Director - Cirkus Cirkör (she/her) 

Tilde is Cirkus Cirkör's Founder and former Artistic Director (1995 - 2023).  Tilde Björfors took the first step towards leadership in 1995 - out on a tightrope and into a new art form. During her soon-30 years in the industry, Tilde has been at the forefront of a leading circus art movement in both performance creation, artistic direction and circus pedagogy in the Nordics. For her work, Tilde has received countless accolades and awards and she became Sweden's European of the Year in 2017.

New Horizons Leadership Programme (NHLP) is a Baltic-Nordic collaboration with European dimension which takes place in 2023-2024, led by Cirkus Syd (SE), Rīgas cirks (LV), and DYNAMO (DK).