ICiMa Chair for Circus and Puppet social and regional innovation

The Grand Est region is a leading figure in terms of creation and innovation in the circus and puppet arts.

The national centre for circus arts /Cnac and the International Puppet Institute / IIM are two establishments under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, dedicated to training, resources and research.

Based on shared aims, the two establishments have collaborated on creating the ICiMa Chair: a chair for Circus and Puppet social and regional innovation.

http://icima.hypotheses.org/

A synergy leading to ambitious research programmes

The ICiMa Chair aims to constitute a regional pole of expertise and skill with  national and international influence in different domains:

> innovative use of materials, movement and risk prevention in the performing arts (conception, practice and diffusion);
> brining creativity of performing arts to applied research and research-initiatives (risk prevention, training, education, design and use of virtual objects and spaces);
> valorising heritage and developing audiences through mediation base don the circus and puppet arts;
> developing new economic and social synergies.

This scientific process is based in a network of regional, national and international partners. It blends different theoretical and applied approaches through:

- organising study days and international conferences,
- experimental work (labs and hackathons),
- research-initiatives that may lead to prototypes

Research axes

Axis 1 - Exploring the performance, expression and dramatic potential of materials, artefacts, scenography and stage mechanisms.

Axis 2 - Gesture and Movement: the physical experience of the artist, physical preparations, quality of presence, notation, digital mechanisms and the dramatic impact.

Axis 3 - Multilingual terminology of the Circus and Puppetry Arts.

With the support of:
- The Ministry of Culture,
- The Regional Director of Cultural Affairs Alsace - Champagne-Ardenne - Lorraine,
- The Alsace - Champagne-Ardenne - Lorraine Region (DESRI et Culture),
- The Ardennes Department,
- The Marne Department,
- The Châlons-en-Champagne Agglomeration Community,
- The Ardenne Métropole Agglomeration Community.