Famous artists such as Damien Hirst are working with an east London charity to open the world’s first permanent art circus for children.
Famous artists such as Damien Hirst are working with an east London charity to open the world’s first permanent art circus for children.
The House of Fairytales, run by artists Deborah Curtis and Gavin Turk, is setting up a circus hub to inspire creativity and imagination, while putting play at the heart of education.
The Art Circus is opening next month at a converted warehouse in Canning Town at Hoy Street.
The space is being given free on temporary lease by the Cathedral Group, which has put in a planning application to transform the former Goswell Bakeries and Moss Electrical site into
housing and commercial units.
It will have four puppet theatres, and film and photographic studios, space for printing, ceramics, publishing, costume wardrobe and prop-making. They are even putting in a small cinema and theatre.
Classes are being staffed by artists, performers and educators. Visiting lecturers will include well-known artists, art directors, costume designers and performers.
An online outreach programme for children in is to feature live-directed art experiences by Marina Abramovic, Damien Hirst, and Jonsi from Icelandic band, Sigur Ros.
Other artists involved with the circus include Sir Peter Blake, Marina Abramovic, Jeremy Deller, Gary Hume, and Rachel Whiteread.
The hub will also act as a lab for testing work for a travelling art circus.
Entry to the Art Circus is going to be free to children of all ages and their families.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here