INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS FESTIVAL
This is how the 2018 edition happened
The third edition of the Uruguay International Circus Festival (FIC) was held between September 14 and October 2, 2018, solidifying its position as a diverse gathering of national and international companies that boosted the circulation of contemporary circus in Montevideo. (Montevideo Portal note) Organized by the El Picadero collective, the festival featured a program distributed across tent, theater, and street performances: activities in the Arroyo Miguelete Linear Park (with the traditional circus tent), interventions in public spaces such as the Botanical Garden, and presentations in theaters and auditoriums throughout the city. This diversity of formats allowed for a combination of large-scale performances with open showcases and training workshops.
The 2018 edition included an opening gala, acrobatic performances, clowning, aerial arts, and small- and medium-scale acts, and sought to consolidate regional exchange networks and strengthen the professionalization of local artists and technicians. The festival also served as a platform for showcasing emerging talents and international co-productions, promoting the decentralization of cultural offerings to neighborhoods and parks. (La Diaria article)
For those researching the recent history of circus arts in Uruguay, the 2018 edition of the FIC represents a milestone due to its broad program and its presentation of mixed models (big top, theater, and street performances) that are now benchmarks for the circulation of shows in the region.