2024 workshop information coming soon...
fall 2022-2023 free community program workshops:
thursdays from 6-830pm
Free food served at 6pm, on now for fall season, for young people 15-29 years old at Cecil Community Centre, 58 Cecil St in China Town, downtown. Please be in touch for more details (rachel@socirc.ca)
2020-2022 - thank you to all of the amazing venues taking us in during the pandemic
Without a stable SoCirC home, each time we were able to meet in person we were lucky to have great hosts step in and take us in! Thank you :
Grand Canyon Theatre, Breakaway Community Services, JAYU, UVPole Fitness, Collective Space and Redwood Theatre
And also, huge thanks to Ontario Trillium Foundation for providing us with funding for the tech support to work virtually when required!
Grand Canyon Theatre, Breakaway Community Services, JAYU, UVPole Fitness, Collective Space and Redwood Theatre
And also, huge thanks to Ontario Trillium Foundation for providing us with funding for the tech support to work virtually when required!
watch our video below to learn about Community programs - this video focuses on our community project which was held at mlse launchpad in partnerhip with soy (supporting our youth) and pedestrian sundays kensington
community programs
Our SoCirC community program initiative has run since 2014, Thanks to our long time funders: the Toronto Arts Council, and Cirque du Soleil. We run weekly drop in social support programs through circus arts, for young people ages 16-29. SOCIRC facilitators along side a community support worker run "social circus" workshops for street involved, LGTBQIA2S+ and other youth facing barriers in an inclusive space, to build community, self esteem, communication, trust, sense of belonging, and circus skills.
In January 2020, we participated Canada's first National Social Circus Gathering: CIRKASKINA in Montreal, with our community youth troupe performing and exchanging with 17 other social circus groups from across the country, an event put on by Montreal's Cirque Hors Piste.
In 2017, we partnered with host venue: MLSE Launchpad, and teamed up with SOY Getout Program, for our weekly community workshops culminating in performances hosted by Pedestrian Sundays Kensington, Pride Fruitloopz Youthstage and SoCirCs Carnival Fundraiser Event and youth show: "The Carnival of Life"!
Our community program started in 2013 as part of AGO's Free After Three program with Syrus Ware, evolving later into a program called "The Red Light Project", hosted by SKETCH working arts. Performances presented as a series of vignettes for busy pedestrian street traffic walking through Kensington Market, inspired by buskers in South America doing quick performances at busy intersections for a captive audience in vehicles waiting at the red lights. Our performances continue to evolve as our veteran performers become more experienced, and we get fresh new creative ideas and perspectives coming from our new participants. Watch out for us as on the streets of Kensington Market as we are always sure to make an appearance during the annual Pedestrian Sunday Kensington street festivals!
2015-2017 -sketch community arts
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2013-2015 : ago - free after three, with syrus wareSoCirC began our first regular free community programming thanks to Syrus Marcus Ware, as a part of Art Gallery of Ontario's free youth programs from 2013-2015. With the help of Syrus' unwavering support, approach and care for youth and a group of committed young new artists of all skill levels, we created a community and safe supportive space for youth to continue to build self esteem, trust, social skills, creative expression and engage in physical activity through circus outside of school spaces. This included many opportunities to visit the AGO exhibits to make connections and inspire creativity. The youth had opportunities to perform in the beautiful AGO space once a season through fall, winter and spring. Although we have moved locations over the years since we left the AGO, our community program could not have become what it is today without the support, creativity and guidance from Syrus at the AGO programs.
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