STREET ARTISTS IN EUROPE - Fondazione Fitzcarraldo

Street Artists in Europe
These networks have been successful in enabling funds to be generated for the creation of new
work of scale. They have both produced books full of colour photographs and articles, as part of
their advocacy of the street arts. Both of them will continue for a second three year period, with
slightly different foci.
The difficulties that have emerged during the life of these networks have mostly concerned
issues of cultural difference, communication difficulties arising from there being no common
language used by everyone and the specific challenges incurred by members all being very
overcommitted and busy in their own spheres.
It is envisaged that further networks may be set up to investigate collaborations in other related
spheres. Eg there is an embryonic trans-European network for showcasing small scale street
theatre and circus shows, led by Italy.
3.4. Recommendations
- Proper research is done by each nation into what funding sources are available for production
of work (this was extremely difficult to find)
- Each nation produces information on funding opportunities for artists.
- National street arts networks produce information on commissioning policies and principles
for artists
- Eunetstar and In Situ continue to spread information about their work
- New pan-European commissioning and diffusion networks are encouraged and supported as
part of Culture 2000.
- Advocacy is undertaken from the European parliament to improve the status of street arts
across the nations, and point out its special opportunities as a tool for fostering stronger links
and connections between residents in member states.
4. The size and scale of street shows on the circuit
There is an extremely large variety of scales and types of show on the street festival circuit;
many different artforms are used separately and together – street theatre (with and without text),
street dance, puppetry (large and small scale), physical theatre/mime, maskwork, comedia
dell’arte, circus, circus skills-based street theatre, street music, booth shows for limited
numbers, walkabout and stilted shows. Of the festivals having an off programme, the biggest
proportion of off shows (by a big margin) are circus. Few festivals programme dance on stage,
many do not have music on stage either.
There is a clear division in types of street performance. The majority of shows are clearly
‘animation’ pieces, designed to fill squares and streets with life and energy, performers and
audience co-existing in the public space in a continuous flow of entertainment and interesting
experiences. The aim of this kind of show is to appeal to everyone, whatever age, often in
family groups and generate a real sense of exhilaration and bonhomie.
Other shows are much more theatrical and may be very large scale, needing to take place in
spaces removed from the milling public. These may require greater concentration from a
dedicated audience, they develop a range of different atmospheres and emotional responses
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PE 375.307