The main focus of the project revolves around the adaptive re-use of heritage buildings and the quality of interventions on cultural heritage.
CIRCUSPLANEET, founded in 1999, works with children and young people at risk, using circuses for non-formal cultural education and community building. Taking a deeper approach into specific areas of Ghent, young people were noticed to be particularly at risk of social exclusion, and not being engaged by traditional educational and social activities.
Ghent decided to work with local organisations to revitalise the social housing quarter ‘Malem’ with a community arts practice that offers qualitative training and creates infrastructure for circus artists. The project managed to combine the meaningful reuse with respect for the monument and the community.
CIRCUSKERK provides room for professional and non-professional artists as well as the local community, by engaging these groups through small scale festivals and performances.
CIRCUSPLANEET involved stakeholders, children and youngsters, circus artists, residents of the neighbourhood, and local partner organisations through the entire process of making the project a reality. Overall 39 circus artists working and living in the city area use the building for training and creation.
Find more about the project here
