the program MERIDIAN(s) focuses this year its action in Germany with a prominent presence of Catalan circus to create a scenario of visibility in this country in 2026 and, at the same time, to strengthen the cooperation between both territories in the field of circus.
In this way, throughout the year, some forty artistic proposals will travel to twelve festivals in Germany, reflecting the plurality and vitality of the Catalan circus. This presence will materialize in various formats, such as performances, artistic residencies, sessions of pitchinga laboratory for creation and professional activities aimed at fostering spaces for meeting and exchange between agents from both territories.
The program, which last year focused on Portugal, is coordinated by the Association of Circus Professionals of Catalonia (APCC) and has the support of the Ramon Llull Institute (IRL) and the Catalan Institute of Cultural Enterprises (ICEC).
MERIDIAN(s), is framed within the measure CirC – Catalan Circus International Rings of II Promotion plan for the circus of Catalonia 2023-2026 which aims to develop and strengthen the international projection of the Catalan circus, promoting connections and international relations that can last over time.
This month of May, the CircusDanceFestival (Cologne, from May 21 to 24) and the Bildstörung Festival de (Detmold, from May 22 to 26) have had a large presence of Catalan companies and professionals. In Cologne it has been possible to see a Diana Gadish, company Churry, company Express, Cia Otra vez lunes, Angel Duran Performing Arts y Nuria Full Moon. As for the Detmold festival, the scheduled performances have been those of Electric 28, The Galindos, Los Informals y Joan Català.
Other festivals that are part of the MERIDIAN program are: tête-à-tête (Rastatt, from June 3 to 7) where the companies are scheduled Balagans, If Circus, navel, Pau Palaus, Roi Borrallas, Mr. Stets y Circus Panic; ViaThea (Görlitz, from July 2 to 4) con Manolo Alcantara; Berlin Circus Festival (Berlin, from 5 to 16 August), From North to West (Bremen, Osnabrück, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Löhne, Arnsberg, Wuppertal, Dinslaken and Troisdorf during July and August) where he will tour Show Co. Express; at. voltage (Larz, September 3 to 6) and atoll (Karlsruhe, September 17 to 27). In Chamäleon Berlin PLAY (Berlin, January and February) acted Zed Zanzu.
Regarding reverse mobility, programmers and managers of German festivals will attend several festivals and fairs in Catalonia this year. In the Trapeze Fair (Reus, from 13 to 17 May) representatives of the Atoll, Chamäleon Berlin, Berlin Circus Festival and the online platform Zirkus Plus have participated. The assistance of several German professionals is also planned Tàrrega Fairsome of whom will attend for the first time.
In addition to this initiative, other German circus festivals such as Alles Muss Raus (Kaiserslautern, from July 18 to 20), where they will perform Leandre Clown y company. Vero Cendoya; y Boulev-Art Festival (Wismar, from July 31 to August 2) where you can see a Adrian Schwarzstein y Electric 28.
Despite being a project limited in time, MERIDIAN(s) is born with the will to generate lasting relationships and to promote dynamics of exchange, discovery and complicity between the Catalan and German circus sectors beyond 2026.
The II Promotion plan for the circus of Catalonia 2023 2026 is an initiative of the Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Asociación de Profesionales del Circo de Catalunya (APCC) which counts on the collaboration of: Institut Ramon Llull, Ateneu Popular 9 Barris, Center de les Arts del Circ Rogelio Rivel, Encirca’t, Associació de Formació de Cirque de Catalunya (AFOCC), Fira Trapezi, Ajuntament de Reus, La Central del Circ, the Mercat de les Flors and the complicity of several municipalities, entities and scenic equipment in Catalonia.
This promotion plan consists of 14 specific measures that aim to boost creation, production and exhibition, generate circuits and guarantee the presence of the circus in its diversity throughout the territory, strengthen the companies in the sector, stimulate research and take advantage of the appeal and the social, transformative, educational and communicative impact of the circus.
It is part of the measure CirC – Catalan Circus International Rings of the II Impulse Plan for the Circus of Catalonia 2023-2026 of the Department of Culture of the Generalitat and the Professional Association of the Circus of Catalonia (APCC).
