Table 5 Social circus and health equity (CIHR funded)

Bio-Security

Economic and social marginalization leads to alienated youth with low self-esteem and poor mental and physical health as well as counterproductive styles of living. Social circus promotes personal growth (micro) through engaging creativity and building perseverance to take on challenges as well as generating a strong sense of solidarity (and possibly national pride) through team building, social engagement and social inclusion (mezzo level changes). These attitudes and skills lead to stronger communities better able to address the social processes that drive marginalization (macro level).

Using mixed methods research, including quantitative surveys, in additional to qualitative methods, we are clearly able to document and interrelate the micro and mezzo level impacts of social circus on participants and to a certain extent, their immediate community. Impact on social processes that drive marginalization will have to be assessed in a longer-term endeavour – as our longitudinal time frame is only 3 years.

- Health justice

Sustainability

Many of the local programs are under threat, as they depend on public funding and awareness by various levels of government of the value of community programs such as this, despite what appears to be very strong benefits of social circus to those who participate.

We have yet to determine how best to study the “value” of these programs, in terms that will lead decision-makers to make solid commitments to sustain the programs.

- Ecological justice

Solidarity

The innovative social intervention (social circus) can challenge hierarchical relationships, and indeed generate improved social democracy. Although the intervention per se (social circus) is the object of study and not under the control of the research team, the research team is endeavouring to conduct the research in a manner that itself is empowering.

The research has not only embraced participant observation, performance ethnography and other qualitative research methods but has placed particular emphasis on participatory arts-based research methods (e.g. “photovoice” and circo-theatrical research creation by participants) to further build local capacity and agency. Social class variables (INSOC) have been included in the longitudinal cohort study of social circus participants, to ascertain the relationship between social class, and the benefits of social circus.

- Social justice

- Agency

Sovereignty

The theoretical conceptualization of social circus is to value the contributions “from the margins” rather than merely to attempt to build skills in participants that will lead them to better conform to the market economy. Nonetheless different “promoters” of social circus have different objectives, with decreasing street-based lifestyles and building national pride figuring prominently.

While nurturing North-south bonds in this rapidly growing global social circus community, care is being taken to minimize cultural imperialism (particularly relevant because of the strong influence of Cirque du Soleil), and the research process is endeavouring to respect local art related practices and the pathways to fulfilment chosen by participants and their communities rather than impose external values.

- Epistemological justice

- Interculturality

- Respect for local expertise