Albert & Friends Instant Circus (1983 - 2019)
Biography
Albert & Friends Instant Circus (A&FIC) was a contemporary social circus charity based in London, that worked with children and young people with physical and learning difficulties, problem children and excluded youths to develop their potential through circus and the physical arts. A&FIC was stablish in 1983 and incorporated on 22 November 1996.
Their aims were to inspire and celebrate individual achievement through innovative learning and the development of diverse skills, aptitudes and experiences which challenged, influenced and changed life expectations and unlocked individual potential. They were also involved in plans to combat childhood obesity through circus skills.
The company was founded in London in 1983 by Ian Scott Owens (aka Albert the clown) and Petrea Owens (aka Trea) and gained worldwide recognition for its highly skilled, innovative circus theatre performances. Its reputation and performance schedule extended to New York, Paris, Rome, Frascati, Edinburgh, Beijing, Hamburg, Ljubljana, Maastricht and Adelaide. A&FIC developed from a local summer project in 1983, to a voluntary youth organisation in 1988, to a registered Charity in 1997. Trea established A&FIC as a model of good practice in both youth circus and circus arts education gaining Arts Council England recognition in 2004 and National Portfolio Organisation status in 2012.
Albert also worked with Melcombe Primary School in Hammersmith and created a curriculum for circus skills to be taught in schools for a variety of lessons including Maths and History for Key Stage 1-3.
Albert and Trea also created the biennial London International Youth Circus Festival in 2004 providing a platform for young people to perform on the world stage.
A&FIC played a pivotal role in creating both Circus Works, the national UK network for youth circus organisations, and the European Youth Circus Organisation, of which Trea is President. Trea has contributed considerably to the development of the sector both in the UK and Europe.
A&FIC was disolved on 15 October 2019.
Found in 365 Collections and/or Records:
1st Tape Circus Master VHS-C Tape, c1985 - 1990
VHS-C tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
5th N.I.C.E. Seminar Photograph Album, 2008
Photograph album, containing colour photographs of the 5th N.I.C.E Seminar sponsored by the Arts Council and the British Council and attended by Ian Scott Owens of Albert & Friends Instant Circus, held from 5-8 November [2008]. Photographs taken by Desmond FitzGerald, Marketing /PR Consultant & Journalist.
25th Party Programme Optical Disk, c2000 - 2008
Optical disks, containing correspondence, administrative papers, newsletters, photographs and films, created by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
2012 London New Year's Day Parade and Festival Optical Disk, 2012
Published DVD.
2013 London New Year's Day Parade and Festival Optical Disk, 2013
Published DVD.
A Night at the Movies: A Circus Fantasy Handbill, c1990 - 2005
Printed leaflet advertising a performance titled, 'A Night at the Movies: A Circus Fantasy by Albert & Friends Instant Circus at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith. Black background, white text on front, and white background, black text on the reverse, 2p.
A Night at the Movies Photograph Album, c1990 -2008
A Night at the Movies Photographs, c1990 -2008
Includes photographs of children and young people from Albert & Friends Instant Circus, shown rehearsing and performing circus skills during a production called 'A Night at the Movies'.
A Night at the Movies Rehearsal Photographs, c1990 -2008
Black and white photographs, and colour photographs, of young people and children shown stilt walking, unicycling and juggling during rehearsals with Albert & Friends Instant Circus for an unknown show, possibly 'A Night at the Movies'. Photographs found together in a photograph wallet labelled as follows: 'Unknown Show (Maybe 'Night at the Movies') Rehearsal'.
ACE Disk Two Optical Disk, c2000 - 2012
Optical disks, containing correspondence, administrative papers, newsletters, photographs and films, created by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Adelaide Fringe Festival Photograph Album, 1998
Photograph album, containing photographs of young people and children from Albert & Friends Instant Circus, shown in costume, stilt walking, unicycling, skipping and performing circus skills at different events during the Adelaide Fringe Festival in Australia.
Adelaide Fringe Festival Photograph Album, 2000 - 2001
Folder, containing colour photographs, showing young people and children of Albert & Friends Instant Circus performing circus skills in a production called, 'Wagner's Ring' at Adelaide Fringe Festival (2000), as well as an unidentified performance also possibly during a trip to Australia (August 2001).
Adelaide Fringe Festival Photograph Album, 2000
Photograph album titled, 'Adelaide Fringe Festival 'The Ring', containing colour photographs of children and young people from Albert & Friends Instant Circus, during a trip to Adelaide, Australia, and performing in the street and at a park during the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Adelaide Fringe Festival Photographs, c1998 - 2001
Includes photographs of young people and children from Albert & Friends Instant Circus, performing at Adelaide Fringe Festival in Australia.
A&FIC Booklet 2008/9 Optical Disk, 2008 - 2009
Optical disks, containing correspondence, administrative papers, newsletters, photographs and films, created by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
A&FIC Promo Video (5 mins) VHS Tape, c1985 - 2000
VHS tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
A&FIC Stilt Football Cup Challenge 2011 Optical Disk, 2011-12-06
Football match between Melcombe and Fulham Primary Schools.
A&FIC Stilt Football Cup Challenge 2011 Optical Disk, 2011-12-06
Football match between Melcombe and Fulham Primary Schools. Possibly a duplicate of 178U13.9.
A&FIC & Waterman's Art Centre, Brentford Autumn 2011 Optical Disk, 2011
Optical disks, containing correspondence, administrative papers, newsletters, photographs and films, created by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
A&FIC & Waterman's Art Centre, Brentford Autumn 2011 Optical Disk, 2011
Optical disks, containing correspondence, administrative papers, newsletters, photographs and films, created by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.