The Sztukmistrze Foundation has been building an international network of partnerships for many years, developing the idea of Contemporary Circus – one of the pillars of the European Capital of Culture Lublin 2029 RE:UNION program.
We seek inspiration in places where circus is part of everyday life. One such city is Galway, Ireland, ECoC 2020, where Community Circus, in cooperation with the University of Galway, conducts research on the impact of circus activities on the development of children, young people, and adults. As Lynn Carroll, Executive Director of Galway Community Circus, emphasizes: “The impact of circus on development is not emotional storytelling – it’s a concept based on scientific research.”
At the invitation of EYCO (European Youth Circus Organisation), the foundation took part in the NICE meeting, where educational circus practices from all over Europe and the world were discussed. In July 2025, representatives of the foundation participated in the “Bridges for Youth” project in Bremen – a unique international exchange involving young people from five countries. This is another step towards building bridges and strengthening Lublin’s position as a European hub for contemporary circus.
We were also present in August at the European Juggling Convention in Arnhem (Netherlands) – the largest gathering of jugglers and circus artists in Europe. Workshops, shows, joint trainings, and the unforgettable atmosphere – all this gives us the energy to keep moving forward. Let us remind you – Lublin has already hosted the EJC three times, and the Sztukmistrze Foundation is working to bring it back to our city in 2029!
