Recognising the importance of itinerant artists for creative diversity and to cultural life, the charter on Duty of Place seeks to facilitate the acceptance of circus groups and other cultural structures travelling within France. It was signed and launched in October 2018, in Auch, during the festival CIRCa.
Working group
This charter was born out of the collaboration of a working group coordinated by ARTCENA and made up of :
- The Association of Mayors of France and intercommunity presidents (AMF),
- The International Centre for Itinerant Theatres (CITI),
- le Collectif des cirques,
- National commission of circus professionals
- French Federation of Circus Schools (FFEC),
- National Federation of Territorial Collectivities for Culture (FNCC),
- Ministry of Culture
- The Union for circuses and creative companies (SCC) and
- Territoires de Cirque
After the charter of 2001, the charter of 2018
A first Charter on Duty of Place was signed in 2001. It marked the desire for dialogue and cooperation between the State, local communities and the circus profession in order to improve the conditions of reception of circus companies, in the respect of existing norms.
This new charter from 2018 brings a renewed ambition and expands to all itinerant art forms and cultural activities, including of course circus arts but more globally the performing arts performed under a tent or in other nomadic structures open to the public.
To respond to the evolution of territorial organisation, it is not intended solely for individual municipalities but to all local communities, including those between municipalities.
It brings together the new actors in production and distribution that have emerged – the National Poles of Circus Arts that had been certified in 2010, as well as other bodies, such as the National Stages, the Official Stages, intermediary spaces, and circus schools that use a big top.
Télécharger la Charte Droit de cité
Joining the Charter
All the conditions for joining onto the Charter are available on page 13 of the text (download above).
- Corporations and companies wishing to join the charter should give their accession petition as well as a full application to the regional director of cultural affairs to which they depend.
Once the application is approved by the DRAC, they shall inform ARTCENA who enters the corporation to the list of adherents. Entry of the corporation onto the list equates to accesstion to the charter. If the corporation is required to have a licence, accession remains valid for that same period of validity. At the renewal of the corporate licence to the relevant DRAC, the corporation indicates their desire to continue adhering to the charter or not. The DRAC transfer this information to ARTCENA so the record may be updated.
- Cultural operators (venues, festivals, etc.) join freely to the set of principles and recommendations laid out in the present charter. Their adhesion is subject to a deliberative vote by the decision-making body relevant to them (such as the executive board). They transfer their act of accession to the DRAC to which they respond, according to the location of their headquarters, as well as to ARTCENA in order to appear on the list of adherents.
The means for filing the act of accession are defined in the bylaws of the pilot committee of the charter.
If the operator is required to have a licence, their accession is valid during the same validity period. At the renewal of this licence at the competent DRAC, the cultural operator shall indicate their intention to continue or cease their adhesion to the charter. The DRAC passes this information to ARTCENA for the list to be updated.
Download the accession petition here
Adherents to the Charter
Circuses (corporations)
- Cirq’Event / Nouveau Cirque Zavatta
- CirkVOST
- Roger Production
- Cirque Fantasia
- Cirque Franco-Italien
- Association Mouvement intellectuel tzigane
- Cirque Claudio Zavatta
- Cirque Roger Lanzac
- Théâtre de Pinocchio
- Cirque Johnny Circus
- Le Cheptel Aleïkoum
- Compagnie Rasposo
Communities
- City of Monluçon
- City of Saint-Lô
- City of Martigues
- City of Gravelines
- City of Chalons-en Champagne
“Duty of Place” Logo
In order promote their engagement, adherents may use for the purposes of communication :
- The logo “Duty of Place”
- The following text :
Recognising the importance of itinerant artists for creative diversity and to cultural life, the charter on Duty of Place seeks to facilitate the reception of circus groups and other cultural structures travelling within France. It was founded by the State, territorial communities and professionals of the industry, and coordinated by ARTCENA.
These elements must be used once accession has been approved.