The Association of Circus Proprietors of Great Britain
 
The Association was formed in 1932 to promote the highest possible standards and ideals within the circus industry. Its members are leading circus proprietors in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and its function is to discuss with Government, Local Authorities and other bodies the issues that affect the circus industry and make the decisions that will ensure its continued development as a vibrant, exciting and popular art form.
 

Circus in the UK is thriving as never before
 
More than thirty touring circuses each visit up to forty cities, towns and villages every year, giving some 1200 communities the opportunity to see high quality, affordable live entertainment in their area.
 

The audience for circus is significant
 
Circus is a visual entertainment, unaffected by language barriers, which appeals equally to all ethnic groups. The most recent pilot study carried out by the Social Survey Division of the Office for National Statistics indicates that over a twelve-month period, 18% of respondents had attended circus. The survey also shows that there were ‘no noticeable class differences in attendance for circus’.
 

Young people are increasingly interested in learning circus skills
 
Arts Council England reported that during 2007, in excess of 50,000 young people engaged in circus activity through outreach programmes in their schools, youth clubs or community settings, learning skills that are accessible and inclusive. These skills nurture experiences in personal development, and can lead to a career in the circus industry as a performer or technician.
 

Combining Traditional and Contemporary circus
 
Whether Traditional or Contemporary, circus companies and practitioners are producing a wider breadth of work, developing innovative and exciting circus productions that frequently mix old and new. The best international circus companies make regular visits, drawing a wider audience to a greater range of circus experiences.
 
The Association of Circus Proprietors of Great Britain is the professional trade organisation for the circus industry in the UK. The members are the Proprietors and Directors of leading touring and resident circuses irrespective of size. The Association speaks with the authority and experience of the industry's principal consultative body committed to innovation, to high quality and to elevating standards and professionalism.
 

The Association of Circus Proprietors and Local Authorities
 
Circuses traditionally use Local Authority sites such as parks and recreation grounds. The Association believes that Local Authorities and other similar bodies should act in the best interests of the general public, by ensuring that any circus that uses its land is a member of the Association, in the knowledge that it is dealing with an established and reputable circus that is a member if its industry trade body and complies with all regulatory requirements that the Association is able to advise on. The Local Authority has the comfort in knowing that the Association offers a route for discussion and mediation in resolving difficulties. This is the general public's guarantee of quality, best value, best practice and commitment.
 
All members of the Association must carry Public Liability Insurance.
 
The Association is always ready to discuss with Local Authority officers the application of legislation to circuses and provide the benefit of its specialist knowledge.
 
In recent years there has been a move by some circuses to use privately owned sites that can be used without the necessity of planning permission. The Association considers that circuses should be a direct tenant of the Local Authority, which can then exercise adequate control through the site agreement prohibiting fly-posting, requiring proper and effective management, and by the imposition of suitable animal welfare standards. Local Authorities may only ban the use of animals as the landlord of the circus site, as this encourages circuses using animals to move to private sites. Instead, Local Authorities should act responsibly and in the interests of animal welfare by providing a site but insisting on specialist veterinarian certificates.
 

The Association of Circus Proprietors and performing animals
 
Some members of the Association use animals in their performances, especially horses. Animals are a popular part of a circus for many members of the public. While there are people opposed to the concept of performing animals their use continues to be lawful and the public are entitled to accept that the Local Authority is regulating the position by imposing animal welfare standards in its site-letting agreement..
 
The Association believes that the present legislation covering the keeping, transporting and training of performing animals is inadequate and has repeatedly called for better regulation by way of licensing and regular inspections.
 
The report of the DEFRA Circus Working Group 'Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses' in which the Association participated, published in November 2007, found that after considering the veterinary research & opinion, there were no grounds for imposing a ban on performing animals. The Association welcomed this finding and considers that it makes its call for better regulation more pressing. The Association has stated that it considers that there are certain species of animal that if they were used by circuses could be unsuitable for travelling but considers that those animals that may usually be found in a British circus are acceptable subject to appropriate standards of animal welfare being employed.
 
In 2001 after consultation with DEFRA and its advisors and with the British Veterinary Zoological Society the Association published 'Standards for the Care and Welfare of Circus Animals on Tour', which was circulated by DEFRA to Local Authorities. This document remains the basis of the Association's animal welfare policy, although there have been some minor amendments to the list of restricted species that are detailed in the original document.
 
The association along with animal welfare organisations & other independent bodies, including the British Veterinary Association was a member of the Circus Working Group set up by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare to investigate the welfare of animals in circuses in England & Wales.
 
The majority of members including the independent & veterinary bodies concluded that performing animals other than certain species should not be banned but there should be regulation and licensing of circus animals.
 

The Association of Circus Proprietors
 
The Association of Circus Proprietors of Great Britain is the recognised trade body for the circus industry, and is registered with the Certification Office for Employers' Associations to which it submits an annual report. It is not a compulsory body but is open to all circus proprietors who can illustrate that they conduct their business to a high standard and offer performance of an acceptable quality.
 
As the body representing the industry, the Association is consulted by Government on proposed legislation that could affect circuses. The Association has been involved in a variety of issues, for example:
 
The formulation of the new Points Based System replacing work permits as it affects foreign entertainers, having a place on the Home Office Taskforce.
 
The exemption granted to members of the Association from the requirements of Caravan Site Licensing.
 
The advice given to DEFRA on the requirements for circus winter quarters that was incorporated in the latest Planning Circular to Local Authorities, which set out guidance for the provision of permanent sites for travelling showmen.
 
The negotiation with HM Revenue and Customs of specific tax allowances for foreign-based circus artists working in the UK.
 
Discussing, with the DCMS and directly with the Minister, the interpretation of the Licensing Act 2003 as it applies to circuses
 
Consultation by DEFRA on various aspects of animal welfare legislation and on European Community legislation regarding the transportation of circus animals.
 
Working with the specialist section of the HSE to produce new guidance on circuses as places of work for use by Local Authority inspectors.
 

Summary
 
Although the origins of circus are to be found in the history of ancient Greece and the spectacles of the Roman amphitheatre, the circus as we know it today was a British 'invention'. It was created in London in 1768 by former Army sergeant-major Philip Astley, when he gave displays of bareback riding prowess in a field near Halfpenny Hatch, Lambeth, making his first 'circus ring' from a rope and some stakes. In 1770 he acquired some land on the south side of Westminster Bridge, and covered seating accommodation was erected for spectators to watch the open-air displays. Later, he established Astley's Amphitheatre in London, the first purpose-built circus arena, subsequently burnt down and rebuilt several times. From London, circus spread throughout the world as Astley and his descendants and pupils took the circus first to Paris, then to Russia.
 
In 21st Century Britain, circus attracts anything up to 100,000 people a week and comes in all shapes and sizes, from a colourful two-pole Big Top on a village green to the state of the art Big Tops touring to our major cities. Members of the Association require the expertise of highly qualified technicians, and performers whose skills may range from traditional circus to contemporary physical performance, dance and theatre. The increasing popularity of circus has also led to more circuses appearing in theatres, arenas and leisure halls.
 
Circus is an important art form in Britain making an ever-expanding and vital contribution to our rich cultural heritage in performing arts. Proudly circus takes its place as an art form alongside theatre, opera and ballet, and Arts Council England recognises that: 'Circus is an art form that exists in its own right, not as an adjunct to theatre or dance'.
 
Circus continues to draw widespread support from the public as it brings its entertainment to their doorsteps. In a country where entertainment of an international standard is usually confined to the cities and large towns, it is circus that brings a high-quality live production to within a few miles of just about every home in the land, from the furthest reaches of south-west England, to the remoter parts of northern Scotland.
 
For children, circus may be their first contact with live performance - no computerised images staging impossible stunts. What they see is real: a unique and exhilarating family entertainment. Association members recognise the importance of nurturing young people's interest in this unique family entertainment.
 
As an industry, circus looks forward with confidence and optimism to the challenges and developments of the 21st Century. But these can only be achieved through the support of external authorities and legislators and the recognition of the crucial role the Association plays in promoting this important part of the nation's cultural heritage.
 

All correspondence to The Secretary, P.O. Box 131, Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 9GA
Tel & Fax: 01254 814789. Mobile: 07971 201533.
Email: email Malcolm Clay - malcolm@circus-uk.co.uk
Website: www.circus-uk.co.uk