Run away to Portobello and join the circus

If a new social enterprise’s crowdfunding campaign is successful there will soon be a circus academy in Portobello. Edinburgh’s Centre for Circus Arts wants to be a place where circus artistes can train every day and teach others how to juggle, unicycle or do whatever it takes to be entertaining!

“One month ago a group of circus makers were offered the rare chance to take on a warehouse building in Portobello, a seaside town on the outskirts of Edinburgh, and dedicate it to circus arts. We took that chance and Full Cirqle was born. But we only have four weeks to get rigging points and truss in, install an entry system and make it safe for children before we open on 10 May!

“There are people working in Circus all over Scotland but all share their spaces with other projects. Edinburgh’s brand new Centre for Circus Arts will include a dance studio, two rehearsal spaces, storage, offices and an aerial barn. It is a bold and exciting project at just the right time, days before several groups of circus artists lost their training space at nearby The Arts Factory to demolition. Full Cirqle expects to be home to seven circus companies and up to 50 individual members working in circus, theatre, parkour, music, film, yoga, pilates and physical therapies. We want to welcome our wider community to learn, train and play with us. The social enterprise we are creating is by the people for the people!”

You can show your support by paying in advance for your membership. The link to Crowdfunder is here.

The Full Cirqle group launched their short campaign and have already met their initial target but they now wish to take the target up to the next level.

They explain what another bit of funding will get them: “When we reach £7500 we get a floor in the studio and insulation round the doors. When we reach £8500 we get a website, a booking system, a fresh water tap and a toilet.”

Lots of information and photos on the Portobello Community Council website and you can watch this video to find out more:

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