Rural towns can learn circus skills, with an educational bounce on the side 

Published on 12 Oct, 2012 

Media Contact: For interview contact Stacey Wallace via 07 4923 2829 or or for the Woorabinda program contact Melinda Mann-Yasso 0400 758 264

For Immediate Release

School kids and residents in the regional Queensland towns of Woorabinda, Baralaba, Eidsvold and Mount Morgan will have the chance to learn circus skills, with the help of two professional trainers from Brisbane's Flipside Circus, as part of the new Artists in Residence program.

The Flipside Circus trainers will spend two weeks in each community, where they will work with schools, community organisations, community members and families to develop their circus skills. The program will conclude with a community performance on the final day.

LINK HERE for ABC TV's video story and LINK HERE for photos taken by ABC.

LINK for more photos taken by ABC during the Woorabinda program
Click here to View/Download full-sized ImageArtists in Residence is a collaborative project between CQUniversity's Widening Participation team, Creative Regions (a regional not-for-profit arts management and production company) and Creative Capricorn (a joint initiative of the Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Queensland and Rockhampton Regional Council). It aims to highlight students' achievement in the circus workshops to inspire longer-term interest in the Arts and engagement in education.

The workshops will be held in Woorabinda at the local Kangaroo Stadium from October 8-19. They'll be at Baralaba State School from October 23 to November 2, and at Eidsvold's Munjoorum Hall from November 5-16. Mount Morgan events will be between November 19-30 at the School of Arts and the Green Shed.

CQUniversity's Widening Participation Program Manager, Stacey Wallace, says the program aims to enliven local communities to participate and celebrate possibilities through the Arts and to promote lifelong learning.

Director of Creative Regions Rod Ainsworth says: "We're aiming to establish longer-term relationships with communities to support their artistic and cultural development, and to encourage educational participation through engaged learning."

Chair of Rockhampton Regional Council's Communities Committee, Cr Rose Swadling, says it is a wonderful opportunity for the young people of Mount Morgan to be included in a regionally focused opportunity.

"I think this is a great opportunity for Mount Morgan. We all know that involvement in the Arts is great in terms of educational outcomes for young people and in bringing the community together, and I look forward to seeing the results of the residency."

Flipside circus will be visiting regional Queensland towns to conduct circus skills workshops.
Click here to View/Download full-sized ImageThis program is supported by Arts Queensland, Creative Capricorn, Australia Council for the Arts, Rockhampton Regional Council, Central Queensland Indigenous Development and Flipside Circus.

Details are available via Stacey Wallace on (07) 4930 9456 or email your enquiry to wideningparticipation@cqu.edu.au.

 ENDS