Catalan circus shines at Brussels' UP Festival

Catalan circus is taking part in Brussels' UP Festival, which showcases some of the best contemporary circus shows from around the world.   

The festival features performances by Rauxa with 'Història de la Llana', Lali Ayguadé & Akira Yoshida with 'Together to Get There', and Palimpsest with 'Masha.' 

On Wednesday, there were also previews of shows by Du'K'tOm, Impulsos and Manel Rosés. This brings the Catalan line-up to a total of six acts. 

Catalan circus goes international 

The Catalan presence at the UP Festival is thanks to the Catalan Institute of Cultural Enterprises (ICEC) and the Trapezi Fair.

"The most important thing about the Catalan circus is that it wants to become international," says Núria Bultàm, director of the ICEC office in Brussels.  

"Events like this give a great boost to the Catalan circus," says Bultàm. The presence of these companies at circus festivals shows that Catalan circus is "very much alive".  

In addition to the six companies, the Catalan delegation is made up of 14 organizations and associations from the circus and performing arts sector. They are in Belgium throughout the week to present Catalan circus to the organizers of the festival.   

The Catalan delegation also visited several Belgian circus organizations to learn how they work. 

Cultural budget cuts 

Alba Sarraute, co-director of Trapezi, hopes to "bring back the internationals" who left because of the 2008 crisis.  

"The budget cuts in culture have not been restored. We hope that politicians will see that culture, the international network and the breaking of borders are important," explains Sarraute.