How curious – circus team wins top award
ACIRCUS skills organisation has won the competition to find the UK’S most curious and colourful event.
Skylight Circus Arts, based on St Chad’s Fold, which runs classes for diverse groups such as refugees, LGBTQIA teenagers, disabled people and oversixties, has won ticketing platform Eventbrite’s national competition.
The competition was designed to celebrate the wide diversity of events that can be found on Eventbrite, and especially those that could be described as unusual, unique, alternative and maybe a little bit ‘out there.’
Winning £2,500 in cash and £2,500 in Eventbrite fee credits, Skylight says they are going to use the money to run projects that it is unable to get funded, such as its Silver Circus for over sixties, drop-in classes and youth classes.
Skylight beat off strong competition from hundreds of organisers, including those who have held Japanese paper marbling classes, underwater photo shoots, Morris Dancing meetups, spoon carving workshops, nettle foraging walks, and scarecrow making classes.
Linda, 71, who has attended many Skylight Circus Arts events said: “A friend of a friend told me about Skylight, encouraging me to go along to the Silver Circus sessions for over sixties.
“I went along and everyone was so welcoming and the staff were great. They encouraged me to try things within my comfort zone and progress as I became more confident. That was four years ago and since then I’ve learnt a lot of new skills – from juggling to diablo. I’ve also performed aerial circus at lots of events - to learn something I thought I could never do and then progress to performing is a truly amazing experience at my age.
“Best of all though, I’ve made great friendships with staff and participants and I’ve now got what I call my ‘Skylight Family.’”
Skylight Circus Arts is run by 51-year-old David Allen and he and his team have run circus workshops for those aged three to 83.
David said: “Winning this competition means the world to a small organisation like ours and we actually cheered with delight during a staff meeting when we got the call.
“The money we’ve won will help us continue to support those groups that we don’t get funding for, so people in the local community can meet like minded folks to socialise and learn new circus skills.
“It’s so important to us that our services remain open to everyone because the skills we teach people can help with everything from fitness through to building confidence.
Each week they run 15 sessions aimed at different groups within Rochdale be they refugee families, people with disabilities, young people or the over sixties. They also took their sessions on tour around the North West and had 1,700 participants in 2021.
“We pride ourselves on teaching circus skills with a purpose,” David added.
“Our organisation was founded just over 30 years ago by two individuals coming from a background in education and circus performance. Skylight Circus Arts brings those two passions together. Everyone hopes this win will encourage more people to try circus skills and performance.”