‘What if circus could transform the way children learn?’ - Galway group receives funding for early learning scheme
The Galway Community Circus is among nine successful candidates to receive funding to further an early childhood learning path through circus experiences.
The Arts Council, in partnership with the Children, Disability and Equality Department, has awarded the Galway Community Circus €39,970 in its fourth iteration of a scheme oriented toward arts in early learning and education settings.
This year, a total of €275,849 was given to nine projects under the Arts in Early Learning and Childcare scheme.
Galway Community Circus representatives told the Irish Independent the funds will go toward the Growing Through Circus programme.
The programme will be supporting three childcare providers to bring the circus environment to education settings for babies, young children, and school-aged children.
It will also support wider involvement with parents, artists, educators, carers, and families.
“Building on our longstanding early years work, the programme will develop resources and training that enable educators to embed circus-inspired activities into their own practice, aligned with national early learning and childcare frameworks,” the GCC representative said.
“As well as introducing more children to the arts from their earliest years, the project will explore how circus can support creativity, communication, confidence and new ways of learning.”
Lynn Carroll, CEO of the Galway Community Circus, said the Growing Through Circus Programme is an opportunity to expand children learning through unique models.
“We believe every child deserves to learn in ways that are natural to them. We see educators as creative partners, and funding from the Arts Council allows us to build on our work with University of Galway where we explored how circus could support STEM learning,” Ms Carroll added.
CEO of Galway Community Circus, Lynn Carroll.
“Together with early years educators, we’re continuing to ask an exciting question: what if circus could transform the way children learn?”
“By exploring that question together, we hope to inspire more creative, joyful and inclusive learning, while ensuring more children experience the arts from the very beginning of life.”
Created in 2002, the Galway Community Circus took a focus on being a space for young people. At the core of the group is community, offering classes and workshops for various skills from circus graduates from around Europe.
The organisation is now home to over 500 members with strong international ties.