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Circus as a Space of Opportunity in Central Europe – International V4 Conference

Official Programme of the 16th Budapest Circus Festival

Date: January 8, 2026, 11:00 to 4:00

(Doors open and welcome reception from 10:00)

Venue:

Budapest, City Park, Vajdahunyad Castle Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, Conference Hall

Conferencer: Anna Vas

The conference is free of charge and open to all.
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The international conference of the National Circus Arts Centre focuses on the advancement of equal opportunities within the circus arts. We explore the implementation of accessibility from both physical and mental perspectives for individuals with diverse special needs – addressing organizational structures, performances in the ring, and the audience experience alike.

The international V4 conference, titled 'Creating Opportunities through Circus Arts in Central Europe,' aims to provide a platform for participants to share best practices and to encourage inclusive developments across all sectors of the circus world.

The conference will be opened at 11:00 AM by Péter Fekete, Director General of the National Circus Arts Centre. Following his opening remarks, he will present the newly released publication featuring the proceedings of the conference 'Circus, Education, Heritage – ECA International Academic Conference', held in 2024 as part of the 15th Budapest International Circus Festival.

Programs

Morning Session and Speakers:

11:00 Péter Fekete (Hungary): Opening Address

11:10 Péter Fekete (Hungary): Book Launch: “Circus, Education, Heritage – ECA International Academic Conference”

11:20 Rita Zsófia Biró (Hungary, MAGYE): “Not Everyone is Born for the Same Trapeze” – Creating Opportunities and Inclusion at a Systemic Level in the World of Circus

11:40 Helmut Grosscurth (Germany, ECA): Circus Means Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

11:50 Ama Butoiescu (Romania): Metropolitan Circus of Bucharest – Social Circus Policies and Community Impact

12:05 Brigitte Scherrer (Canada): Equity and Inclusion Initiatives at Cirque du Soleil

12:15 Matteo Krajewski & Monika Oleksiak (Poland): The Journey of Polish Circus Artists: Challenges and Limitations in Poland and on the International Stage

12:30 Zsuzsa Várnai & Éva Nemes-Jakab (Hungary): Circus for Every Mind


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Afternoon Session and Speakers:

14:00 Jaromír Pavlík (Czech Republic): Cooperation with Down Syndrome Groups and Individuals, their Contact and Interaction with Circus Animals and the Impact of it on Them

14:10 Róbert Berki (Slovakia): Without Borders: The Circus as an Inclusive Community

14:20 Dariusz Krajewski (Poland): Organizing Circus Performances in Poland before 1991 (Through the Example of Cooperation between the Polish and Hungarian Circus), and Current Challenges and Problems in Organizing Performances by Polish Circus Companies

14:40 Bartosz Kujawa (Poland): All under One Tent: Accessibility in Circus Arts

14:55 Anna Vas (Hungary): Methodology of Circus Audio Description – Reflections on Ten Years of Practice

15:10 Dániel Levente Pál (Hungary): Talent Development as a Pathway to Opportunity in Contemporary Circus

15:25 Emese Joó (Hungary): ReDance Ukraine: Creating Opportunities through Museum Tools for Ukrainian Dance and Circus Students under the Protection of the National Circus Arts Centre

Organizer: National Circus Arts Centre

Professional Partner: Association of Hungarian Special Educators (MAGYE)

Organizing Committee: Emese Joó, Susy Eötvös, András Sándor, Szilárd Dézsi

conference@circus.hu
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