Fwd: [CCCirque] Women in Circus Symposium Call for Papers
Marco Antonio Coelho Bortoleto
De: Ariane Martinez <ariane....@univ-lille.fr>
Date: ter., 10 de mar. de 2026 às 08:22
Subject: [CCCirque] Women in Circus Symposium Call for Papers
To: cccirque-diffusion <cccirque-...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: Marc Lozano <marcl...@protonmail.com>, Isabelle Pere-Fam <isabelle...@etu.unilim.fr>, Nadja Perreau <nper...@univ-lille.fr>, Tania Simili <tania_...@hotmail.com>
Professeure en arts de la scène (théâtre, mime, cirque), Département Arts
Directrice du laboratoire CEAC (Centre d'étude des arts contemporains), ULR 3587
À: "Ariane MARTINEZ" <ariane....@univ-lille.fr>
Envoyé: Mardi 10 Mars 2026 12:07:15
Objet: Re: Planning a Research residency in Sheffield in July 2026 / Freakshows
Women in Circus Symposium Call for Papers
The National Fairground and Circus Archive is hosting a one-day symposium on women in circus.
Date: Wednesday 5th August 2026
Time: 09:30 - 16:30
Venue: Western Bank Library, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN
The symposium will celebrate the role of women in circus through history and discuss the complex role they have played in its development through performance, promotion and management including their successes, challenges, achievements and impact on the sector.
How has the role of women evolved over its long history? Who were the trailblazers, and what is their legacy in contemporary practices? What specific challenges do women experience in the sector? How does gender define women’s careers and performance genre?
Academics, independent researchers and practitioners with lived experience are welcomed to submit papers for 20 minute presentations (including questions). Please feel free to submit a paper on any topic related to the theme of the symposium.
Suggested topics:
Remarkable performers
Women breaking the mould
The historical context and the role of women in the development of circus
Women’s legacy in circus
Feminism in the circus context
Physical performance and body image
Women shaping performance
The challenges and opportunities for women in circus
Submission guidelines
Abstract/Summary (max 300 words) outlining your presentation content
Short biography (max 200 words)
Please note, all presenters are required to attend in-person.
Submission deadline: Monday 23 March
The papers will be reviewed and selected by a panel of members of the organising committee. Decisions on proposals will be sent by Monday 11 May.
Please submit your proposal via this link
Location
The symposium will take place at the Western Bank Library, University of Sheffield and home of the National Fairground and Circus Archive. It will be part of a series of public events to celebrate Rope Women; an exhibition about the all female troupe Skinning the Cat co-curated by its founder, aerial performer, entrepreneur and artist Rebecca Truman and NFCA Senior Archivist Arantza Barrutia with an introduction by Professor Vanessa Toulmin.
For directions, including accessible routes and facilities, see the Western Bank Library guide on AccessAble
Access
The room for the symposium is located on level 5 of the Western Bank Library. There is stair and lift access to the room. Toilets are located on the ground level. If you have any access requirements please let us know in advance of the event.
For further information related to access, parking and maps please follow this link
Please feel free to forward this email to your contacts
For enquiries related to the Symposium, please contact: Arantza Barrutia a.barru...@sheffield.ac.uk with the subject line Women in Circus Symposium 2026
We look forward to receiving your submission!
Rope Women exhibition
Western Bank Library, University of Sheffield
(20 July – 11 December 2026)
An exhibition showcasing the career of Rebecca Truman and the history of the all-women aerial circus company Skinning the Cat. The exhibition explores the experiences of Becky Truman and the Skinning the Cat performers as an all-female circus troupe and dwells on the role of women in circus.
Thank you very much for your quick answer!Best regards,Ariane Martinez
Professeure en arts de la scène (théâtre, mime, cirque), Département Arts
Directrice du laboratoire CEAC (Centre d'étude des arts contemporains), ULR 3587De: "Arantza Barrutia Ezenarro" <a.barru...@sheffield.ac.uk>
À: "Ariane MARTINEZ" <ariane....@univ-lille.fr>
Cc: "lib-special" <lib-s...@sheffield.ac.uk>, "universityarchive" <universi...@sheffield.ac.uk>, "Kathryn J McKee" <kathryn...@sheffield.ac.uk>, "Angela Haighton" <a.hai...@sheffield.ac.uk>
Envoyé: Mardi 10 Mars 2026 11:44:06
Objet: Re: Planning a Research residency in Sheffield in July 2026 / FreakshowsHi ArianeThat's great news. No, there's no admission fee.On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 10:29 AM Ariane Martinez <ariane....@univ-lille.fr> wrote:Dear Arantza,I confirm my research visit in Sheffield from July 6 to July 16, to consult the National Fairground and Circus Archive (with a focus on freakshows).I am currently organizing my funding application.I already booked accomodation. Can you tell me if there is an admission fee to the libraries for these 9 days of consultation?Many thanks for your answer,Best regards,Ariane Martinez
Professeure en arts de la scène (théâtre, mime, cirque), Département Arts
Directrice du laboratoire CEAC (Centre d'étude des arts contemporains), ULR 3587De: "Ariane MARTINEZ" <ariane....@univ-lille.fr>
À: "Arantza Barrutia Ezenarro" <a.barru...@sheffield.ac.uk>
Cc: "lib-special" <lib-s...@sheffield.ac.uk>, "universityarchive" <universi...@sheffield.ac.uk>, "Kathryn J McKee" <kathryn...@sheffield.ac.uk>, "Angela Haighton" <a.hai...@sheffield.ac.uk>
Envoyé: Jeudi 4 Décembre 2025 12:50:01
Objet: Re: Planning a Research residency in Sheffield in July 2026 / FreakshowsDear Arantza,Thank you so much for your encouraging answer !I am looking forward to this visit. I will be organizing my journey during the winter and spring and I'll let you know the details and the exact dates of my stay, and the archives I wish to consult.Best wishes,Ariane Martinez
Professeure en arts de la scène (théâtre, mime, cirque), Département Arts
Directrice par intérim du laboratoire CEAC (Centre d'étude des arts contemporains), ULR 3587De: "Arantza Barrutia Ezenarro" <a.barru...@sheffield.ac.uk>
À: "Ariane MARTINEZ" <ariane....@univ-lille.fr>
Cc: "lib-special" <lib-s...@sheffield.ac.uk>, "universityarchive" <universi...@sheffield.ac.uk>, "Kathryn J McKee" <kathryn...@sheffield.ac.uk>, "Angela Haighton" <a.hai...@sheffield.ac.uk>
Envoyé: Jeudi 4 Décembre 2025 12:08:34
Objet: Re: Planning a Research residency in Sheffield in July 2026 / FreakshowsDear ArianeI'm very glad you've found the information useful, and so pleased you want to arrange a research visit. The archives are open all year round, except for a week during the Christmas period, so you'll be able to access any collections you need during the summer. Please do not hesitate to get in touch to ask any questions. We'll endeavour to assist you with accessing the collections and booking the reading room. Yes, all the archives are kept by the library and can be accessed in the same study space.I look forward to welcoming you to the archive.Best wishesArantzaOn Thu, Dec 4, 2025 at 10:42 AM Ariane Martinez <ariane....@univ-lille.fr> wrote:Dear Arantza Barrutia,
I hope this mail finds you well. We met at the Scifair Salon "Fairs and Frontiers" last Spring, and you told me about the many collections regarding Freakshows, the subject of my next book and research programm.Therefore, I started consulting the information online and they seem indeed very interesting. Are the following archives in the same place?
- The National Fairground and Circus Archive
- The University of Sheffield Library's Special Collections and Archives
- The University of Sheffield Archive
I would very much like to come next summer, from July 6th to July 18th 2026 to consult these collections. Will the library be open during this period?If so, what should I do to best prepare for my stay?
I can finance my travel and accommodation on site, but I would like to be sure that I have access to as much documentation as possible. I am interested in postcards and posters, but also and above all in any programmes, memoirs and autobiographical accounts you may have about freak shows in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.Thank you in advance for your reply, which I hope will be positive.With kind regards,
Ariane Martinez
Professor in Performing Arts (theatre, mime, circus), Department of Arts
Director of the CEAC (Centre for Contemporary Arts Studies) Laboratory
--Arantza BarrutiaSenior Archivist National Fairground and Circus ArchiveWestern Bank LibraryUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2TN01142227266Access our collection
--Arantza BarrutiaSenior Archivist National Fairground and Circus ArchiveWestern Bank LibraryUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2TN01142227266Access our collection
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