Over the past six months, like the rest of the performing arts world, the Montreal circus scene has taken a hit. Despite so much uncertainty, the Quebec circus sector is particularly well-positioned and supported in its efforts to revitalize and relaunch the circus industry.
On August 18th, we participated in a roundtable organized by Circus Talk and titled Circus and Changing Realities 2020–What’s Up with Canadian Circus? alongside Éric Langlois (National Circus School), Dr. Louis Patrick Leroux (Director of the Montreal Circus Working Group and Associate Researcher at the School’s Research Centre), and Ruth Wikler (TOHU). We discussed the challenges faced by the circus community, as well as how the association, and other governmental initiatives, are supporting it during this stressful period. We also discussed how the industry will need to adapt in the near and distant future in terms of structuring, education, creation, and dissemination.