Social Circus Committee

Updated March 2023

Meet the 2023 Social Circus Committee Members (coming soon)

Social Circus Committee Description

Social Circus Committee members ensure the running of the Social Circus Network and drive ACE/AYCO’s priorities and actions to support Social Circus programs, growth, and visibility in the United States. This includes representation for annual festivals and conferences, equity and inclusion recommendations for ACE / AYCO, and supporting professional development for directors, managers, teaching artists, and young artists.

The Social Circus Committee is composed of 8-10 volunteer members ensuring a diverse cultural, age, geographic and role representation. Two members serve as Co-Chairs. Ideally one member of the committee will also serve on the AYCO/ACE board to aid in cross-organizational communication. Members meet for 1.5 hours on a bi-monthly basis facilitated by the Co-Chairs. Members also serve on at least one subcommittee to move social circus committee initiatives forward. Subcommittees meet on at least a monthly basis.

Social Circus Committee Actions:
+ Convenes and connects social circus programs in order to share resources and build community
+ Supports the professional development of social circus educators through sharing practice and connecting the pedagogy of social circus to broader educational goals and movements (ex. Creative Youth Development)
+ Collaborates with AYCO/ACE to communicate the purpose and practice of Social Circus to a broader circus community
+ Advises the AYCO Board on priorities for action in support of equity and inclusion initiatives, annual festivals and conferences, and Social Circus initiatives

Member Commitment:
+ Term Limits: 2 years, can be renewed up to 3 times for a total of 6 years maximum
+ Expected Hours per quarter: 2-4 (Particular projects may be assumed by the members that demand more time. These projects are at the discretion and capacity of the members.)

Responsibilities:
+ Participate in a minimum of 70% of SC Committee meetings (at least 4 out of 6 annual meetings)
+ Join a Social Circus Subcommittee and meet regularly with that committee
+ Provide consulting, mentorship, and support for leaders of current and prospective Network programs based on one’s skills, knowledge, and capacity
+ Stay abreast of national and international social circus trends and best practices
+ Advise AYCO’s annual priorities, goals, and activities regarding SC initiatives and programming
+ Supports the Social Circus Network by:

- + Participating in a minimum of three Social Circus Network convenings annually
- + Reviewing bimonthly Network Meeting Notes prior to each SC Committee meeting
- + Ensuring members’ voices inform Committee work

+ Attendance at biannual Youth Festivals and Educators Conferences is recommended

Joining the Social Circus Committee:

We are working to make the process for adding new members as inclusive and accessible as possible. It’s important to us that the committee is representative of our many social circus participants and educators and while remaining small enough to be functional and effective. At this time, we are considering new members in three different ways: a) through the rolling applications b) through current committee members recommending new members, and c) through interested individuals contacting the Social Circus Coordinator (socialcircus@americancircuseducators.org) and expressing their interest.