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:
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.
Akaubu: Das Seltsame Land Optical Disk, 2004
Film made by Circus Kaos. Duration 40 minutes.
Albert and Circus CD 1 Optical Disk, July 2008
Photographer: www.boguslawmaslak.co.uk.
Albert and Friends Instant Circus DV Cassette Tapes, c1990 - 2008
DV cassette tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Albert and Friends Instant Circus VHS-C Tapes, c1985 - 2000
VHS-C tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Albert and Friends September 19th Parallel Line BBC1 Not Good VHS Tape, c1985 - 2000
VHS tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Albert and Henrietta Covent Garden Photographs, c1990 - 2008
Albert and Henrietta Covent Garden Photographs, c1990 - 2000
Black and white contact prints of a street performance by Ian Scott Owens dressed as Albert the Clown with his car called, Henrietta, in the street at Covent Garden, London.
Albert and Henrietta Photographs, c1985 - 2008
Colour photographs, and some black and white photographs, showing Ian Scott Owens, performing as Albert the Idiot. Includes photographs of him with his yellow car called Henrietta, as well as in costume performing on stage, street performances and also running circus skills workshops for children outside in a park as part of his work with Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Albert and Henrietta Poster, c1983 - 1989
Printed poster advertising, 'Albert and Henrietta'. White background, yellow text and illustration of Albert the Idiot and his car, Henrietta, 1p.
Albert and Henrietta Shrewsbury Photographs, c1990 - 2000
Colour contact prints, and photographic negatives, of a performance to a large audience by Ian Scott Owens, dressed as Albert the Clown, with his car, Henrietta in an unidentified park in Shrewsbury.
Albert and Henrietta Stoke Garden Festival Photographs, c1990 - 2005
Black and white contact prints of Ian Scott Owens, dressed as Albert the Clown, performing with children and young people from Albert & Friends Circus at Stoke Garden Festival.
Albert & Friends Cake Optical Disk, 28 November 2008
25th anniversary of Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Albert & Friends Camera 1 (Centre) 6-7-91 VHS Tape, 6 July 1991
VHS tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Albert & Friends Edinburgh Preview Handbill, 25 July 2004
Printed handbill advertising a performance of 'A Midsummers Night's Dream' by Albert & Friends Instant Circus at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Colourful text, and illustrated with a photograph of a juggler, 1p.
Albert & Friends (Gloria Huniford) 9/11/93 VHS Tape, 8 November 1993
VHS tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Albert & Friends Go to New York VHS Tape, 1996
VHS tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Albert & Friends Instant Circus Collection
Photographs, films, posters, handbills and other items of ephemera created by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Albert & Friends Instant Circus Poster, c1994 - 1998
Printed poster advertising Albert & Friends Instant Circus: London's Premier Children's Circus. Includes further information about the circus on the reverse. Black background, black and white text and a blurred photograph of a person on a unicycle on the front, white background, black and white text on the reverse, 1p.