Cultural outreach
The project
Since 1997, our production company, Les Foutoukours, has made it its mission to give the art of clowning a new lease of life by educating the public about its artistic value.
Our approach has always been to create and present high-quality clown shows, both here and abroad, as well as cultural mediation.
To continue sharing our passion for acrobatic clowning with the public, we are launching a project to expand our cultural mediation sector.
A cultural outreach program on contemporary acrobatic clowning for youth and families.
Youth is at the heart of this initiative. The aim of the workshops is for young people to be active, participating and making decisions to co-create with the artist-mediators.
Workshops to get young people thinking, enjoying, moving and creating!
How does the workshop works ?
The workshop take place in a classroom or gymnasium. It lasts a total of 60 minutes and have 3 parts:
- Theory
- Physical training
- Live co-creation
The first part, lasting 10 to 12 minutes, covers a few theoretical notions about the art of clowning: what is a clown? Where does it come from? What are the rules governing the art of clowning? What are the techniques of circus creation? etc.
The second part, lasting 10 to 12 minutes, features a series of physical exercises related to the concepts covered in the workshop. This workout bridges the gap between clowning and acrobatics. We believe that the body is the circus artist’s, and especially the clown’s, main tool. It’s therefore essential to present this aspect of our daily lives and give participants a taste of the profession.
The third part, lasting around 30 minutes, immerses students in ACTIVE co-creative work with the artist-mediators. It covers different stages in the Foutoukours creative process, depending on the school cycle. Short scenes are interpreted by the mediators according to the students’ suggestions and choices. This part is the most dynamic and enriching for the students, who will be able to apply this technique in different spheres of their lives.
Technical Requirements
- Gymnasium or room with open space
(In a classroom, desks can be moved to create space) - Access to an electrical outlet
- Interactive whiteboard (IWB or SMART Board) to display images and videos
Procedure
- The artists set up their equipment (10 minutes before)
- The class joins them and sits on the floor
- That’s it! Let the fun begin!
Conclusion
Our programm lays an experience that provides a rich and comprehensive approach, full of information—and above all, creativity.
Our goal is for our outreach efforts to maintain the connection between culture, presenter, and the youth. Clowning is an art to discover, and the territory is vast; our outreach program is here to bridge distances and share our passion!
Our Team
Our service was developed and designed by a team of professionals with expertise in the arts, broadcasting, and education.
They contributed to the content and structure of our workshops to create a simple yet high-quality experience.
Creative Team
Rémi Jacques
Artistic Director of the production company Les Foutoukours
Jean-Félix Bélanger
Co-Artistic Director of the production company Les Foutoukours
Educational Content Consultants
Marie-Christine Beaulieu
Professor at UQAM, Department of Language Didactics
Louis Boucher
Elementary School Teacher – 1st Cycle
Bianka Lévesque
Drama Teacher – 2nd Cycle of Elementary School
Félix Touchette
Elementary School Teacher – 3rd Cycle