Spring at the Belgian Embassy (Flanders delegation)

On December 12, Gaetan Poëlman, General Delegate of Flanders in France welcomed Yveline Rapeau, Director of the Platform of the 2 National Circus Centres of Normandy, and Frédérique Boura, Regional Director of Cultural Affairs of Normandy, for the launch of the Spring festival at the Belgian embassy (Flanders delegation) in Paris.

The 2 Cirques Poles platform in Normandy, a true Circassian creative centre dedicated to the production, creation and dissemination of contemporary circus music, is composed of the Elbeuf Circus Theatre (76) and the Breche Theatre in Cherbourg-en –cotentin (50). Every year, it welcomes companies in residence and offers time for research and experimentation. He also organizes this great festival, SPRING, dedicated to new forms of circus throughout Normandy.

Spring is one of the first international festivals of contemporary circus organized on a regional scale. Every year, for five weeks, he gives pride of place to all the circus encounters with other disciplines (dance, theatre, visual arts, music...). It promotes start-ups and offers a place for new international contemporary creations. At the same time, the Spring festival acquires a human and international dimension. After the tributes to women’s creation in 2019, after honors to Swiss circus creation, it is the Flemish circus that is highlighted for the 2022-2023 season, through two, highlights.

The 1st highlight took place from 24 to 26 November at the Elbeuf Circus-Theatre with two creations by Alexander Vantournhout, «the rising star of the Flemish circus»: Vanthorout, and a duo with Axel Guérin: Through the grapevine.

The second part will take place during the Spring festival at the Cirque Théâtre d'Elbeuf and the CDN de Rouen:
• At Cirque Théâtre: Compagnie Malunès with Bitbybit/ Circus Katoen with Grasshoppers, Sinking Sideways with René
• CDN Rouen Normandy: Sinking Sideways with the creation of Cécile

VIEW THE SPRING 2023 SCHEDULE BY CLICKING ON THE IMAGE

Yveline Rapeau, Director of Platform 2 Cirque Poles in Normandy

At the head of this platform and this festival, an essential personality of the Circassian scene. First, artistic advisor at the Parc de la Villette Public Institution before becoming director of the Brèche in 2012, she is now director of the National Circus Pole in Normandy (PNC created in 2015) which brings together the Cirque Théâtre d'Elbeuf and the Brèche. Through her investment and passion, she multiplies partnerships with artistic and cultural institutions and nourishes creations. It intelligently runs this common production and dissemination platform, and has made it possible to extend the Spring festival, initiated by La Brèche, giving it an international dimension.

Festival Fund in support

Spring has been accompanied by the DRAC for a long time. However, the festival fund launched in 2020 made it possible to support this event more sustainably in the difficult health context recently crossed.

Aware of the difficulties encountered, the Ministry of Culture was able, following the Estates General of the Festivals (1st edition in Avignon on 2 and 3 October 2020) to maintain the holding of certain festivals, and above all, it was possible to set up an exceptional fund to support festivals worth €30 million.

To do this, a strong strategy was developed based on a detailed analysis of territories and the phenomenon of «festivalisation», source of development, development and cultural irrigation of territories. Then, exemplary criteria on environmental issues were identified and compiled into a sustainable development charter for festivals, a “facilitator tool for all festivals” (Christopher Miles). On this basis, the ministry was able to consolidate and direct its financial support towards the identified festivals.

The Spring Festival is naturally part of this programme, given the important role it plays in the Norman region, which it underlies within the region and the metropolis of Rouen, but also its commitment to environmental issues.

The quality of this festival and its director is notable. It is reflected in the two national circus centres (PNC) La Brèche in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and the Elbeuf Circus Theatre, which are the circus platform.

Label Pôle National Cirque

The PNC participate in the renewal of artistic forms and aesthetics of the circus. They organize their activities mainly around support missions and support of creation and dissemination in the field of circus. They bring together 14 reference establishments, including the Brèche and the Cirque Théâtre d'Elbeuf, to support the creation, production and dissemination of circus arts.

Their action makes it possible to build a structuring network in favour of the influence of the circus, as well as the renewal of its artistic forms and its aesthetics for the benefit of the widest public.

The Spring festival is one of the best showcases of the excellence of these poles. It will delight, once again this year, young and old, amateurs and professionals, women and men… for a spring rich in artistic and circassian emotions.