Bindlestiff Family Cirkus
Today is Circus Day in
Brooklyn
Voorhees Theatre
186 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
About
Our Mission is to create original, collaborative circus experiences that nurture transformation in people and communities by centering joy, wonder, healing, beauty, and learning.
We Do This By:
- Presenting high quality world class performances
- Lifting the diverse cultures, experiences, skills, and work of artists and creators.
- Creating relevant, high-quality circus arts education programs for youth and adults of all abilities.
- Serving emerging and established variety artists with funding
opportunities, technical support, access to residencies, and
professional development.
WE, THE FOUNDERS, BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND ADVISORS, AND STAFF OF THE BINDLESTIFF FAMILY CIRKUS CONDEMN BIAS, RACISM AND THE UNDERLYING STRUCTURE OF WHITE SUPREMACY EMBODIED IN OUR CURRENT SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND JUDICIAL SYSTEMS.
The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has been making, producing, and touring original new circus work since 1995. Based in Unceded Lenapehoking (NYC) and Unceded Mu-he-con-ne-ok Lands (Columbia County) The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Bindlestiff’s Cirkus After School actively cultivate a culture of anti-racism, inclusivity, accessibility, and equity for everyone regardless of age, race, gender expression or identity, life experience, justice-impacted status, immigration status, religion, culture, ability, education level, or preference.
Actions we take and will continue to take are to make space for, encourage, and support artists, educators, and emerging leaders currently under-represented in our sector via bookings, professional mentorship, and leadership training opportunities. We continue to seek diversity, equity and inclusion in our Board, Artists, and Staff.
Through Cirkus After School, we partner with youth and community development organizations with the shared goals of social and economic justice and empowerment for Black, Queer, Non-Binary, Two-Spirit, Indigenous, Asian, Latinae, Hawaiian Native and Pacific Islander folx; as well as for individuals who are differently abled.
Our immediate action in light of COVID-19 has been to provide support for youth and families who are disproportionately affected by loss of income, displacement due to gentrification, and lack of access to childcare as jobs re-open. The weekly, virtual, Open Stage Variety Show engaged with thousands of audience members around the world, and paid artists and tech staff for their labor during a time of great loss for entertainment venues and professionals.
We are actively working to identify and dismantle bias and structural racism as it has effected us as individuals and in our organizational practices. We are partnered with over a dozen other members of the North American Circus sector in the American Circus Alliance (ACA) task force on Equity and Inclusion in Circus. As individuals, we add our capital and labor to the work of local and national justice and equity efforts. We are willing to do the work of change; please join us.
Our focus remains on supporting artists through live performances, connecting with youth and family through Cirkus After School, and keeping our staff employed.
Bindlestiff Family Variety Arts, Inc., founded by Keith Nelson and Stephanie Monseu in 1995, prides itself on being an integral part of America’s outstanding folk traditions of circus, sideshow, and vaudeville.Bindlestiff’s activities fall into three main areas. First, we produce original shows, festivals, and public events. Over the decades, Bindlestiff has presented nearly 600 of the world’s top artists in the circus and variety fields. Shows inour home regions of NYC and the Hudson Valley, as well as national touring in the United States, have engaged audiences in the hundreds of thousands, with performances in theaters, Spiegeltents, big tops, cruise ships, fairs and festivals, including 2017’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival, celebrating the cultural heritage of the American circus on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The second area of Bindlestiff’s work is support of emerging and professional variety artists. The Bindlestiff Open Stage Variety Show is the premiere circus “open mic” night of New York City, presenting acts by over 100 artists every year. Bindlestiff’s yearly First of May Award and Residency offers emerging NYC-based artists financial support and mentorship from Bindlestiff. Twice a year, Bindlestiff’s Cavalcade of Youth, produced in collaboration with Playful Productions, pairs young artists from diverse backgrounds interested in learning the craft and skills of circus and variety with professional mentors in the field, presenting public shows in New York City.
And third, Bindlestiff provides high-quality circus arts education and enrichment opportunities. Free Out-of-School-Time and Elder programs serve people in the Hudson Valley and New York City by using circus arts training as a medium for social justice, community building, and youth development. Circus skill workshops are also offered with touring productions. Bindlestiff yearly develops and expand its educational programs with new partnerships, greater outreach, and continued professional development for instructors.
