Leif Norman photographer

“Winnipeg Camp CIRCUS AND MAGIC PARTNERSHIP (C.A.M.P.) 2011

A community-based initiative of the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival

The Circus And Magic Partnership (C.A.M.P.) is an artistic intervention project initially undertaken by the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival in 1996.The project’s objective is to provide a positive and p-roac tive arts and education opportunity for Winnipeg “youth-at-risk”. There are now four distinct phases in the program:

A one-week outreach program based in a remote Northern Manitoba community (March 21–25, 2011). The outreach component, entering its eighth year combines skill training and performance development for over 400 youth participants; provides training for teachers and recreation per-son nel in using the circus and magic materials; and leaves the materials with trained school and re-cre ation personnel in each region it visits.

The photos below are from:

A one-week circus and magic camp held at Gordon Bell High School during the school spring break (March 28–April 1, 2011). A contingent of world class circus artists, magicians and arts instructors provide instructional workshops and interactive activities and performances for over 250 youth-at- risk. The youth are recruited in partnership with school guidance counsellors; The City of Winnipeg Police Service; social service agencies; and inner-city drop-in and resource centres. The one-week camp culminates with a performance by the youth participants for their parents, peers, family and friends. (Sponsored by Great West Life and The Winnipeg Foundation)

“Captain” Neal Rempel guides the boat!

An eight-week (April 10–June 5, 2011) day camp program held at the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre.This phase offers a continuation of instruction in the circus and magic arts and is open to the spring camp participants as well as their family, friends and youth from the surrounding neighb-our hood. The youth participants continue to develop their skills but also begin rehearsals on a s-truc tured, professional quality show for presentation at the annual Winnipeg International Children’s Festival.

As part of the “Under the Big Top” component of the annual Children’s Festival (June 9–12, 2011), C.A.M.P. participants perform alongside the returning C.A.M.P. artist/instructors and help lead public workshops in circus and magic skills.This component offers both the exhilaration of public pe-rfor mance and the opportunity to act as mentors for their peers.