Every performing art form in America seems to have a national representative organization…except circus…until now.
The American Circus Alliance is currently an all volunteer group made up of about 65 people from a broad spectrum of circus genres. We are in the process of filing for not for profit status, and have spent much time during pandemic operation shut down putting the nuts and bolts of the organization together preparing for a public welcome to get involved with a formal launch on April 22nd at 1:30 pm (Eastern).
Membership will be open for enrollment on that day through our website – free for 2021. It’s also the day that we will send a letter, and its collected signatures, to elected representatives imploring the incoming administration to prioritize commitment to the Arts. This letter we have written as part of the Be An Arts Hero 100 Days of Art and Activism campaign.
Some things we’ve already accomplished as we were organizing:
A nationwide economic impact survey of American circus during the COVID-19 crisis;
Advocating for circus to be included in the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (it was at first excluded!);
Funding workshop specifically for circus companies presented by the National Endowment for the Arts;
We got a circus representative on the National Endowment for the Arts panel overseeing Multidisciplinary arts grants for 2021.
Some goals we have identified and organized committees to pursue include:
Regular advocacy activities and calls to action;
An economic impact study for American circus;
Workshops and professional development;
A group insurance plan;
A North American touring network for circus;
A grant program for new circus productions;
What else do we need to do for each other?
For more information about the ACA, or how to join or sign up for the mailing list, visit www.americancircusalliance.org.