Legislation

A summary of the Charities Act 2006 provisions (for England & Wales)

effective from Tuesday (27 February 2007) The Charity Commission has put together a summary with links through to updated operational guidance and publications: www.charitycommission.gov.uk/spr/charprov.asp

The simple guide to licensing for circuses and street arts

Click here to download as pdf (652 Kb)

Press Release

8th March 2006

The Circus Arts Forum opposes the recent plans being made to ban outright the use of wild animals in circuses and is lobbying for regulations to be imposed on the touring of circus animals, rather than the outright ban, proposed by DEFRA. For further information go to defra.gov.uk/news

The Circus Arts Forum has adopted a neutral position on the use of animals in circus. We represent all of the circus community - those that use animals in their work and those that choose not to. We are aware of the role that animal performance has played in the development of circus, but also aware that many people feel strongly opposed to the use of animals in performance. Whilst this is a matter for individual conscience, we feel that the maintaining of animal welfare standards is crucial.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS RESOLUTION PROMOTING THE CLASSICAL CIRCUS AS PART OF EUROPEAN CULTURE

13 October 2005

The European Parliament today adopted by a large majority a resolution calling for greater recognition of and support for the classical circus as part of European culture. The resolution reflects the fact that the classical circus includes the presentation of animals. The European Circus Association (ECA) welcomes the initiative as the starting point to create a more harmonized environment that serves to facilitate the preservation and promotion of classical circus arts and culture as is the case with other art forms. The ECA believes that the sound defeat of a last minute attempt to delete a reference to the presentation of animals as part of classical circus accurately reflects the general public's continuing interest in and support for both human and animal performers. Noting that cross-border mobility is a main feature of circuses, the resolution highlights the need to look at the situation of the circus from a European point of view and calls upon the European Commission and Member States to take action to address obstacles confronted by the circus community. These include difficulties with visa requirements for international artists; challenges related to school and vocational education for circus children as part of the travelling community; and the creation of European standards to harmonize the wide array of technical requirements for circus tents and related safety measures.

The resolution was developed under the leadership of Mrs. Doris Pack, EPP/ED (DE), as part of the activities of the Committee on Culture and Education. According to European Commission Member Ján Figel the initiative "will undoubtedly contribute to better recognition of the circus as part of Europe's culture and to more account being taken of its specific needs in the formulation of our policies."

Contact: Mr. Arie Oudenes
Managing Director European Circus Association De Lagune 24 - 3823 TS Amersfoort - The Netherlands
Phone/Fax: + 31.33.455.3569
Mobile: + 31.625.01.3436
Email: a.oudenes@europeancircus.info
13 October 2005