What was Refract'99 ?
Refract '99 was an international meeting to discuss contemporary circus practice in the U.K., held on the 14th and 15th May 1999 on Three Mills Island Green, Bromley by Bow, London.
Refract '99 was produced by Di Robson Arts Management, Three Mills Island, London E3 3DP.
Refract '99 Steering Group:
Chenine Bathena - Bathena-Jancovich
Leila Jancovich - Bathena-Jancovich
Bim Mason - Circomedia
Mat Churchill - Mamaloucos
Matt Costain
Teo Greenstreet - Circus Space
Di Robson - Di Robson Arts Management
Felicity Hall - Di Robson Arts Management.
What has happened since ?
Annabel Arndt of Total Theatre has volunteered to coordinate up a working party to discuss the formation of a national organisation to represent Circus. Read her letter to be sent out to all the delegates. The first meeting to set up the party will be at 2p.m. on the 25th November 1999 at Circus Space, Coronet Street, Hoxton, London (Old Street Tube).
Iain Reid who chaired the conference has written several letters to the Arts Council and received some replies.
Simone Hewer of Di Robson Arts Management has set up an email list for discussions related to the issues raised at Refract '99.
Charlie Hull of Grip Circus Theatre and Cambridge Community Circus has constructed this website as a temporary home for information related to the conference.
Pax Nindi of the Arts Council of England has offered to help distribute paper copies of the transcripts and biographies to those who attended the conference. The copies have now been sent out to all the Refract attendees.
The Arts Council sent out a letter regarding their new structure - see it here.
Some of the conference delegates met at Circomedia on July 12th '99 to discuss ways of developing recognised qualifications for circus rigging, this being an issue raised at the conference.