IN Your Space Circus School (IYSC) brings colour and animation to public events and spaces across the North West but the company isn’t clowning around when it comes to building on the success of the popular business.
The company has just been acknowledged with a special award for their Outstanding Contribution to Arts and Culture at the North West Business Awards, and is now working with Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Business Boost Programme to progress plans for expansion, and the development of its range of products.
And the company is also hoping to secure a new premises in the very near future which it hopes will facilitate additional classes and new activities.
The Business Boost Programme supports local businesses in growing through investment in business planning and strategic development, offering tangible, focused and bespoke advice and support. The programme has been assisting IYSC in focusing its efforts on assessing the options for securing a new building to house the Circus School.
The current premises on Waterloo Street has been a fantastic base for the company but unfortunately does not allow it to maximise the potential of the classes and circus activities which are of such benefit to participants.
Cath McBride is Company Director with IYSC, and she explained that the programme had given new focus to the company’s ambitions.
“The Business Boost Programme has really allowed us to focus our thoughts and gain a clearer understanding of the Company’s needs in terms of a relocation to new premises. We now have a solid foundation upon which to build, and to begin the major task of securing the required funding to take significant steps towards a custom designed Circus School.
“It’s an exciting time for the Company and for the groups and individuals we work with. We are keen to hear from anyone who may be in a position to assist us in identifying appropriate buildings or spaces to help develop a pool of possible locations for the future relocation of the organisation.”
IYSC has been working with children, young people and local artists since the late 1990s delivering a range of classes in circus skills and performance work. The Company uses circus as a vehicle for personal development and addressing key issues around mental and physical health, Good Relations and challenges around poverty and disadvantage.
You are also likely to have seen their team of professional performers out on the streets, stilt-walking and having the craic with the public at major events such as Halloween and Spring Carnival celebrations, the Maritime Festival and of course at its own annual Festival – Carnival of Colours.
IYSC has also worked with Council on a number of special events including the Christmas Wonder Windows, and in 2017 the Hans Christian Andersen Story Trail.
The Company aspires to create opportunities for everyone to engage with the arts in shared and unique spaces around the city; bringing people together for innovative and creative experiences no matter what their age, background or ability.
You can find out more about IYSC on Facebook (@inyourspacecircus), Twitter (IYSCircus), Instagram and you can catch all the bars at www.inyourspaceni.org
The Business Boost Programme is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020 aiming to provide specialist business support to micro and small enterprises within the Council area.
If you have a business and want to find out more about how it can benefit from the business advice available through the Business Boost Programme you can go to www.derrystrabane.com/businessboost
Or Tel: Danielle McNally 028 71 253 253 (Ext. 6983) or Tara Nicholas 028 71 253253 (Ext. 6980)
Email: [email protected]
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