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:
Circus Sound VHS Tape, c1985 - 2000
VHS tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Circuskonzert & Vernissage: Ein Konzert-und Theatreprojekt Optical Disk, 2003
Film made by Circus Kaos & ViERolinen. Duration 1 hour and 15 minutes.
College Park DV Cassette Tape, c1995 - 2008
DV cassette tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
College PK Term I DV Cassette Tape, c1995 - 2008
DV cassette tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Contact Juggling Music Optical Disk, c2000 - 2012
Optical disks, containing correspondence, administrative papers, newsletters, photographs and films, created by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Correspondence Back Up Optical Disk, April 2003
Optical disks, containing correspondence, administrative papers, newsletters, photographs and films, created by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Croydon Jan-March 08 DV Cassette Tape, January - March 2008
DV cassette tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Day 1(b) DV Cassette Tape, October 2006
DV cassette tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Day 2 DV Cassette Tape, c1995 - 2008
DV cassette tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Day 3 DV Cassette Tape, c1995 - 2008
DV cassette tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Digital Media, 1990 - 2012
Optical disks, containing correspondence, administrative papers, newsletters, photographs and films, created by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Disk 1 Back Up Optical Disk, 2004
Includes saved folder and FLIYC Festival 2004.
Disk 2 Back Up Optical Disk, [2004]
Includes Pathfinder Grant.
Disney's Roadhog Prg 16 - Preview Copy 1996 VHS Tape, 1996
Made by Buena Vista Productions.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival Photograph Album, 1995
Photograph album, containing colour photographs of children and young people from Albert & Friends Instant Circus, shown in rehearsing for and then undertaking an unidentified street performance (black and white costumes) and also during a street performance on stilts (black and yellow costumes) in Edinburgh, possible during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival Photograph Album, c2000 - 2002
Edinburgh Fringe Festival Photograph Album, c2000 - 2002
Small photograph album of a performances in Edinburgh undertaken by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival Photograph Album, c2000 - 2002
Small photograph album of children and young people from Albert & Friends Instant Circus, shown performing dressed in Tudor style costumes, in a park in Edinburgh, presumably as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival Photograph Album 1 of 3, c1999 - 2002
Photograph album, containing colour photographs of young people and children from Albert & Friends Instant Circus, shown performing at an outside venue and on the streets in Edinburgh, possibly during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival Photograph Album 2 of 3, c1999 - 2002
Photograph album, containing black and white photographs of young people and children from Albert & Friends Instant Circus, shown performing at an outside venue and on the streets in Edinburgh, possibly during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.