Circus is for Every Body - A New Project with Extraordinary Bodies
At Galway Community Circus, we believe circus is for everyone. This autumn, we are proud to launch Circus is for Every Body, a new project in partnership with Extraordinary Bodies that will make circus participation and performance more accessible for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent young people in Galway.
The project kicks off on Culture Night, Friday 19 September at 8pm, with a special event at Galway Community Circus featuring Extraordinary Bodies. Audiences can look forward to a performance demonstration, Q&A and a short film screening to mark the start of this exciting journey. This event is funded by Galway City Council Arts Office and Arts Council Ireland.
This project builds on our collaboration in 2024, when Extraordinary Bodies delivered inclusive training for our circus tutors and presented a powerful Culture Night event. Now, they return to work more deeply with us, our partners and young people, leading towards a brand-new inclusive performance in February 2026.
What’s the project about?
Funded by the Rethink Ireland Disability and Participation Awareness Fund and the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, the project will create new opportunities for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent youth to access and participate in circus arts. We are working with partners Galway Autism Partnership, CHIME and Enable Ireland, as well as international leaders in inclusive circus, Extraordinary Bodies.
The project will:
- Host weekly circus workshops for young people (ages 14–24) with our partner organisations led by circus educator Pete Duncan.
- Provide training for our circus tutors with Extraordinary Bodies and Pete Duncan, ensuring best practice in accessibility and inclusion.
- Develop a new collaborative performance with Extraordinary Bodies and young people from the three focus groups, to premiere in February 2026.
Extraordinary Bodies is a vital collaboration between show-makers Cirque Bijou and Diverse City, a charity that champions diversity and equity in the performing arts. Bringing together the skill and talent of D/deaf, disabled, and non-disabled artists, their work is testament to how diverse, extraordinary people can work equally together on and off stage. Extraordinary Bodies will work with us throughout the project, bringing their expertise and experience to Galway in October and February.
Why it matters
D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people are often excluded from arts and cultural activities in Ireland, with limited visibility of disabled artists in circus. This lack of representation can narrow horizons for young people: “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.”
Circus has been proven to build confidence, resilience, mental health, and connection for young people. ‘Circus is for Every Body’ ensures disabled youth can experience these benefits by creating a supportive, inclusive and inspiring space to learn, perform and create.
