What's the best way to understand how environmental sustainability is been developed in the educational front?
Asking the people on the field. A questionnaire surveying the current stand of the FEDEC
(European federation of circus schools) members regarding environmental sustainability was worded. Posing five main questions:
The questionnaire was sent to all 47 representatives from the 21 European countries participating on
FEDEC (Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Hungry, Poland, Check Republic, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Latvia, Estonia and Russia).
Unfortunately despite great effort just twelve of the forty-seven institutions were able to collaborate. Sadly enough this group does not gather a representative number for analyses and understanding of the general picture, but definitely delivers in itself a clear message: environmental debate is not a possibility at the moment, by wish and/ or means. Witch fortifies the suspicion that there is still a lot of room for improvement in the realm of education, presumably more government financial support could provide the necessary time and HR to dedicate additionally attention to important issues such as this Nevertheless the schools that did join the survey shared important information that not just display their approach to environmental practices but also serves as ideas that can potentially inspire new codes for these establishments.
5 Participants do not have environmental sustainability in their curriculums/ programs
4 Participants have it as a side subject
3 Participants have it as an important theme in circus productions and teachings
1. Question
10 Participants practices
environmental sustainability
in their daily logistics
2 Participants do not
2. Question
* Recycling trash / Composting kitchen trash
* Working together with food saving initiatives
* Energy management/
energy saving facilities (light and heat)
* Reuse, repurposing, repairing of materials/ equipments
* Second Hand acquisitions of materials,
costumes and equipments
* Eco-friendly transportation
How?
3. Question
From the 12 participants, 11 of them produces live shows
Among the 11 producers 8 of them take in consideration the environmental sustainability
as a concern in their production process
In which form?
* Reuse of materials
* Encouraging spectators to use public transportation/
offering shuttle rides from train stations
* Digital distribution of promo material
* Applying as the subject of show therefore raising awareness *
* Energy management (light and heat) in rehearsals and performances
4. Question
None of the participants suppose that the environmental trend can be in any way detrimental to circus productions. They although believe it potential beneficial, and shared some words about this optimistic visions:
" It has to be integral to the thinking, at the heart of all we do.. we can work creatively to
make this happen."
"Artists and shows have the opportunity to
give a good message about the big problem of
sustainability."
"The idea should not
to make the audience feel guilty, but to
display certain topics and show simple actions
in daily life to improve our awareness towards
sustainability."
"Sustainability can be one of the central
statements of contemporary circus. Even in its
traditional form, circus was already very
environmentally friendly and sustainable. (...)"
" Oh yes, let's be curious about local companies, let's go and discover our neighbors, let's collaborate with friends and family."
(original french: "oh oui soyons curieux ses des compagnies locales partons à la découverte de nos voisins collaborons avec des proches")
" I believe the current trend towards sustainable
practices is very positive for circus. The staff
and students want environmental
sustainability practices to be part of the circus
school practices and they also want to see
that professional circus companies are
following these guidelines and principles.
There is always room for improvement.