Step Up

Is an exciting new project that aims to put young people in control of the creation and production of performance for outdoor festivals and events. The project is being managed by circus and event production specialists Cirque Bijou, in partnership with Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Step Up has invited young people aged 14 to 25 in Bristol and South Gloucestershire to apply with ideas for new performance for outdoor festivals and events in those areas. These festivals and events might include but are not limited to The Bristol Do, St Paul’s Carnival, Sports Jam, St Mark’s Road Street Party and the Bristol Festival.

The new work might include the following: circus, dance, street theatre, digital arts, extreme sports and music, but definitions are being kept broad to encourage applicants to put forward their own ideas. Preference will be given to ideas that show innovation and a mix of art forms and skills. The project will build on the success of Cirque Bijou and Bristol City Council’s Bristol Harbour Festival Street Theatre and Circus commissioning partnership, and also ‘Project 360’ which brought together music, street dance, extreme sports, circus and visual and digital art.

A panel will meet at the end of June to decide what ideas will be developed. Step Up will then provide financial, production and artistic support for the chosen performances, and will also help support the festivals and events to ensure high quality production values.

Young people will also be involved in the production of the performances as creative producers, technicians, stage managers, set builders and lighting designers.

Step Up aims to inspire a new generation of young people to participate in the arts and in particular outdoor performance, through participating as artists and as members of the audience. The project’s partners believe that by platforming inspiring young artists at community events they will be able to inspire more young people to participate in the arts through providing positive role models.

The project will also bring fresh ideas to outdoor events and new artists to help develop original work.

To find out more about Cirque Bijou