News

Meet our new 2022-2023 ESC volunteers!
08.02.23

Meet our new 2022-2023 ESC volunteers!

Our new European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteers joined us in Galway in December 2022. Due to many trials and tribulations with visa issues, we started our European Solidarity programme later than usual. But we’re so excited to welcome this new group of young people who we know will be an amazing part of our Galway Community Circus team. We wanted to share a little bit about our new volunteers and help everyone get to know these wonderful new people living in Galway.
LifeLine: An interview with Ellis Grover and Grace Neville-Evans
06.07.22

LifeLine: An interview with Ellis Grover and Grace Neville-Evans

One thing we love about funambulism is that the wire is an equal stage. Whether you’re a professional artist or you're just starting out, you go through the same emotional and mental journey when crossing a wire. It also has a beautiful way of connecting people. Ellis Grover, a professional artist from the UK who will perform at LifeLine, first learned to wirewalk from Ulla Hokkanen, Executive Creative Director at Galway Community Circus. Grace Neville-Evans, a professional artist also from the UK who is a member of BassAlto, learned to wirewalk from Ellis. We had a quick interview with Ellis and Grace to get their thoughts wirewalking and what inspires them about this beautiful art form.
LifeLine: An Interview with Musical Director Michael Chang
06.07.22

LifeLine: An Interview with Musical Director Michael Chang

For circus spectacles, a lot of work goes on behind-the-scenes – from rigging to operations to music – it all plays an essential role in the experience. Our European Youth Ensemble will perform to original music composed by Michael Chang, an incredible Galway-based musician originally from Seattle, whose family have been involved with Galway Community Circus since his children were born. Audiences will also be treated to traditional Irish music performed live from world-class musicians based here in Galway during the spectacle. We had an interview with LifeLine Musical Director Michael Chang about his experience composing and organising music for the LifeLine highwire spectacle.
LifeLine: An interview with Artistic Director Ulla Hokkanen
04.07.22

LifeLine: An interview with Artistic Director Ulla Hokkanen

Circus is an art form that brings people together from all walks of life, all around the world. The Lifeline highwire spectacle aims to embody that essence of circus, working with the international circus community to bring together performers from 15 countries aged 11-66 years from all walks of life with various experience on the wire. We had a quick interview with Ulla Hokkanen, Executive Creative Director for Galway Community Circus and Artistic Director for LifeLine, about the impact of this event and its importance in the international circus community.
Choose Galway Social Enterprise: Choose Galway Community Circus
09.06.22

Choose Galway Social Enterprise: Choose Galway Community Circus

Did you know that you or your child can take circus classes in Galway while at the same time helping and investing in your community? Galway Community Circus is a circus school but is also a social enterprise. We exist to not only bring the joy of circus to Galway, but to improve the lives of our local community. Galway Community Circus was created to meet the needs of our local youth by offering a non-competitive, physical and creative activity in a safe and welcoming space. Our philosophy is ‘circus for all’, and we use the circus arts to teach young people, including those who are disadvantaged, at-risk and vulnerable, the tools to develop self-confidence, resilience and social skills while tapping into strengths and hidden talents.
How to become a European Solidarity Corps volunteer
09.02.22

How to become a European Solidarity Corps volunteer

The European Solidarity Corps (often shortened to ESC) is a funding programme of the European Union that brings together young people in order to build a more inclusive society and respond to societal challenges. It creates opportunities for young people aged 18 to 30 to volunteer and run their own solidarity projects that benefit communities around Europe. If you like to travel, learn new languages, discover new cultures and are interested in helping the wider community in Europe and beyond, the European Solidarity Corps is for you! In this blog, Galway Community Circus ESC volunteer Ines explains how you can start the process and find a project in your own country or abroad.
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Galway Community Circus 2021 Highlights
15.12.21

Galway Community Circus 2021 Highlights

We can hardly believe 2021 is coming to an end! The end of a year marks a time for reflection. Despite another year of changing restrictions and many obstacles to overcome, we have accomplished so much. We've had another great year full of classes, trainings and professional development workshops, youth exchanges, conferences and so much more. 2022 will be another action-packed year as we celebrate our 20th anniversary, but for now, we reflect on some of our proudest achievements of 2021.
Youth Circus member Darragh chats about his experience on the GCC Board of Directors
19.11.21

Youth Circus member Darragh chats about his experience on the GCC Board of Directors

In honor of Charity Trustees Week, we interviewed Darragh O'Donohoe, youth circus and board member at Galway Community Circus, about his experience as a young person on the Board of Directors. Darragh was appointed to the board in 2020 and is a full time student at NUI Galway studying psychology. He has been a youth member of Galway Community Circus for nine years and has participated in the circus on all levels. He has been as a student, volunteer, teacher and has served as a member of the organisational team behind Scratch Night (among other more specific roles). He is in his first year of membership with the board of a three-year term.

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