US Circus Survey Needs Your Input
The American Youth Circus Organization (AYCO) and the American Circus Educators (ACE) are conducting a US-wide survey of the circus industry. They want circus and circus-related businesses to be accurately represented, to show the wide impact they have on the U.S. and the diversity with which they accomplish that. They are asking all American circus programs and businesses to take a few minutes now to fill out the US Circus Survey.
Seven years ago, AYCO performed a similar survey of youth education programs. They found dozens of programs in almost every state. But the organizers of this survey know more is out there and they want to hear from everybody including performance companies, educators, facilities, and vendors too! The survey is being run by circademics with academic credentials who have also trained with circus professionals from fifth-generation circus performers to former Cirque du Soleil performers to youth circus programs. They need everybody, and to truly show what the US circus industry can do, they need at least 250 responses. So far, they only have about 50.
The quick set of questions covers basics like who’s out there, how old they are, what types of performances they do or educational programs they run. This information will help better connect new talent, established professional companies, and untapped audiences. Survey results will help circus businesses too. The results of this Survey will help circuses find more money to operate their programs by defining the size of the market and its growth cycle. The results will show where American circus can do more and better. For more information, please check out the project’s FAQ page.
Whether you run a circus school, a circus studio, a circus camp, a performance company, or a business supporting circus in the U.S., your responses will help everyone in the industry identify how big the market is, who they are, and how they can grow this industry. Help the organizers understand and advocate for the diversity of the circus industry by filling out the survey and please feel free to share this article with any and all relevant US-based circus or circus-related companies that you might know.
GUEST AUTHOR Sonja Harpstead Performer, Teacher UNITED STATES Sonja Harpstead is a circus performer and teacher in and around New York City. Her focuses are partner aerial, tightwire, and being a catcher on the flying trapeze. When her feet are on the ground, she loves to research the heritage of circus, circus education, and youth development. For some reason, they gave her a Master’s for this.
Featured Image: Courtesy of ACE website
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