Creating Circus Culture
Hi, my name is Amy Cohen and I believe that circus can change the world.
I am opening Circus Culture, Ithaca’s very own circus school.
Our mission at Circus Culture is to provide circus education and opportunities for all in Ithaca, N.Y. We invite individuals and groups from the Ithaca area to engage with circus as an art form and life tool through classes, workshops, performances, parties, camps, and more. We believe in dedicated play, creative physicality and inclusive community.
Our vision is implicit inclusivity. This means that everyone will truly feel welcome to join in at Circus Culture. We will be there for people who don’t typically associate with circus but seek to take part, and those who are looking for an inclusive opportunity. Our community will know the circus is here for them, and here to stay.
About Me
For the past 10 years I’ve been traveling around the world soaking up as much circus knowledge and experience as possible. At Ithaca College I studied Arts Management and started ICircus, the circus club that still thrives today. As a Fulbright Fellow, I researched circus in the UK. As an NYU student, I earned my MA in “Circus as a Tool for Social Change, Education, and Creative Expression”.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours teaching circus arts to kids and adults and producing circus events around the USA. For the past three years I've been building to this - Circus Culture - by instigating circus events in Ithaca such as the Ithaca Community Circus, Circus Classes at the CSMA, and the hugely popular Art Circus.
Concurrently, I’m the Executive Director of a national 501(c)3 organization called the American Youth Circus Organization, where I support 200 circus schools, educators, and young artists by providing resources, planning festivals and conferences, and advocating for circus arts.
It's Happening!
Now it’s time for Ithaca to have it’s very own circus school. We’ve found the perfect space in Press Bay Alley in Downtown Ithaca, have an incredible support team, and will be open in July 2015. We will run camps and special sessions during the summer and start our full programming in the Fall of 2015. Once our space is up and running we'll offer additional circus programming for individuals with special needs, elders, and rural youth.
Circusy things that will happen in our space include:
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Aerial (static trapeze, fabric, lyra)
- Juggling (scarves, balls, rings, clubs, contact)
- Props (diabolo, flower sticks, plates, hoola hoop)
- Acrobatics (handstands, group pyramids, tumbling)
- Tightwire (low and high!)
- Equilibristics (unicycle, feathers, rolling globe)
- Clowning and more!
What We Need
We are raising $25,000 via this campaign. This will position us to flourish as a healthy and community oriented organization for years to come. You’ll be equipping our space with mats, aerial equipment, juggling equipment, energy efficient lighting, and a fresh coat of paint. We understand that 25K alone is not enough to start a circus school. This campaign is matching a generous donation that we received earlier in the year that brought us through the start-up phase and allowed us to acquire a 5 year lease, purchase insurance, and will give us security for the first year of business. If we raise more than our goal, we will have the opportunity to engage with community groups and offer financial aid to students.
We are committed to this community - Circus Culture is here to stay!
What You Get
Your contribution to this campaign plays a critical role in helping Circus Culture thrive. We've got perks galore - and we can't wait to share them with you! Explore them on the right hand side of the page.
Beyond the swag, you will be providing opportunities for young people to take risks in a safe environment, and for adults to play. You'll enable us to create an innovative model that will serve as an inspiration to emerging circus organizations around the US. You will be saying YES!
Why Circus?
Historically, the circus has been a place where anyone and everyone is welcome and the possibilities of human potential are expanded. It comes to town and becomes the central gathering place, a community hub, and a source of inspiration. Circus is a gathering of the others.
As a hybrid of art and sport, circus is comprised of a myriad of disciplines, from juggling to trapeze, partner acrobatics to tightwire. As a result, it not only includes people of varied skills and abilities, but actually requires this diversity to be whole. Trust, coordination and communication skills are experientially developed when practicing circus arts, and risk taking curiosities are played out in a safe and controlled environment. The non-competitive yet physical nature of the form makes it a unique and beneficial outlet for all ages.
Why Ithaca?
Ithaca is primed for a circus school. This is a creative, quirky, grounded, and hard working community that loves to play. Our home in Press Bay Alley in downtown Ithaca is accessible by public transportation. We are positioned to become a hub for creativity in the Finger Lakes and Upstate NY at large. In the warmer months we will be able to contribute to the myriad of festivals and community events that abound, and in the cold months we will have a cozy downtown space where people can be active and creative any time of year - something that is incredibly important for the well being of our community.
We’ve got circus people!
Even though Ithaca is a small city, we have an impressive number of circus folks here including circus educators, recreational circusers, and professional performers like Nate the Great and Hilby. Circus Culture is going to continue to be able to expand its offerings to the community, thanks to the awesome circus talent that resides here, and the fact that Ithaca is a destination that guest artists and educators are excited to visit.
Downtown = the place to be
We're honored to be located in Press Bay Alley in Downtown Ithaca. We firmly believe that the presence of Circus Culture will be beneficial to downtown. The Ithaca Downtown 2020 Strategic Plan focuses on revitalizing the urban core, increasing entertainment and activity options for all ages, and increasing foot traffic. Circus Culture will do all of these things and more, and we are excited to be able to contribute to making our downtown a more vital and engaging place. The past few years have been challenging for the Ithaca Commons due to construction - and we’re looking forward to playing a role in bringing it back to the lively gathering place the community counts on.
Honoring History
Ithaca even has a circus history. In the mid 1800’s, the circus parade arrived every summer - it would start at the original Hotel Ithaca and march down State Street. The circus would set up for a day, play for the entire community, and then pack up and move on. Now, the circus won’t have to be fleeting - it is here to stay.
The Art of Risk Taking
Circus is about taking risks, and so is starting Circus Culture.
Once we raise these funds we will be positioned to sustain as a business - however we are keenly aware that the work is just beginning. Running a circus school involves a lot of overhead costs, and while we might prefer our currency be hoola hoops, we’re in a world of money and are committed being fiscally healthy so that Circus Culture can thrive. We will pay a living wage and always have an 8:1 student teacher ratio as well as comprehensive insurance for our organization and programming. We will be maintaining our large downtown space and caring for our top of the line equipment by bringing in a professional rigger multiple times a year.
Your active support of Circus Culture is essential for our success. Sign up for our classes, attend our performances, and sign up for camp. It is our responsibility to offer the best possible circus education and opportunities so that you want to be at Circus Culture. Ultimately our success will be a result of the community saying YES and taking part.
As a five year old circus student at Cirkus Cirkor in Sweden once said:
“an opportunity is a risk and a risk is an opportunity”
Other Ways You Can Help
You can help us by spreading this campaign to three people who you think might be in the position to give!
Need some ideas?
Do you know anyone who loves Ithaca, NY and want’s to keep it quirky and thriving? Or someone who loves the circus? How about someone who loves you - we know there are many - and would want to support something you care about deeply?
You can also ask people you know and love to match your donation - or to send it to three of their contacts - a simple “will you match me in my support for this thing I believe in” is often very fruitful!
Thank you for supporting Circus Culture! It is a labor of love and simply wouldn't be possible without support from the amazing local and global community of Ithacans, circus lovers, and believers in play, creativity, and inclusion.
I am so grateful for your support.
With Love,
Amy
