What does the CLIMB leadership program entail?
In this episode we explore Circostrada's program for cultural leaders navigating the complex realities of contemporary circus and outdoor arts organisations.
The first edition, co-organised with Outdoor Arts Italia, brought 15 participants together in Piemonte, northern Italy, for three days of peer exchange, workshops, and reflection.
Together with researchers and cultural managers Giuliana Ciancio, Dea Vidovic, and Luisella Carnelli, Maaike discusses what it takes to lead cultural organisations in challenging times — and how leadership can become more fair, sustainable, and inclusive.
The conversation touches on:
- How CLIMB was designed as a retreat combining theory, peer exchange, and embodied work;
- Political emotions and how they shape decision-making and collaboration;
- Feminist leadership, shared leadership, and participatory governance as frameworks for rethinking power;
- Soft skills, wellbeing, and the paradox of asking the arts to heal society while arts workers struggle with burnout and precarity;
- The importance of unlearning taken-for-granted practices.
Crossing Voices, a Circostrada podcast, connects European and international perspectives in contemporary circus and outdoor arts. Each episode fosters dialogue on current issues, bringing together diverse voices to inspire change in artistic practice and cultural policy towards a more inclusive and sustainable cultural landscape.
If you would like to know more, please visit circostrada.org
Production: Magdeleine Goutierre– Circostrada
Interview, edit, and host: Maaike Muis
Music: Blue dot sessions
