Circus launches ground-breaking new app in Macclesfield to bring
Big Top delights to children with autism across the region.
On Monday 8 September 2014 Circus Starr launches a brand new, interactive visual story app, Show and Tell, available free of charge from the Apple store.
With the help of families from in and around Macclesfield, and the support of local autism support group Space4Autism, the project will uncover internationally significant research that will help children with autism across the globe access live performance.
“Space4Autism is delighted to have been invited to take part in Circus Starr’s exciting research project that will support children with autism in accessing the arts and live performance. We like to offer our members opportunities to enjoy new cultural experiences and the vibrant, magical and accessibility of a Big Top show gives us the perfect opportunity to do this! Also with the support of the new circus app, we hope that even more children will be able to enjoy the show!” Cheryl Simpson, Space4Autism Macclesfield
Because new experiences and environments can cause anxiety in children on the autistic spectrum, visual stories are often used to help a child envisage a situation in advance and so help reduce stress at the actual event. Show and Tell provides a photographic feast of live action circus images, exclusive behind-the-scenes material as well as show footage that will help children familiarise themselves with the circus experience before they go. All content in the app can be personalised to suit the specific needs of each child and children can even put themselves into their stories by uploading their own images, footage and text.
Around 700,000 people in the UK have autism. Together with their families, they make up around 2.8 million people whose lives are touched by autism every single day. Show and Tell will be used to enhance understanding and enrich enjoyment of a live performance, before being used as a springboard into exploring other arts and cultural opportunities (theatre, galleries, museums) with family and friends.
“Visual supports can be valuable tools for many people with autism, helping them navigate situations like days out that many of us might take for granted.” Heather Wildsmith, Cultural Development Manager, National Autistic Society
“Being able to spend time with your family having fun is important. However, this is not always possible for families whose lives are affected by autism. Show and Tell enables us to reach even more children by giving them tangible support before, during and after our show.” Neville Wilson, Director, Circus Starr
Show and Tell can be used on an iPhone or iPad and has been developed by award-winning app developer, Therapy Box in association with the National Autistic Society. It is part of a wider research project supported by the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts investigating how digital technologies can be used to increase participation with the arts more broadly.
Over the course of the project 180 children will participate in the research being led by Dr Tracy Piper-Wright at Chester University. Research participants have been recruited to download and personalise their visual stories before attending Circus Starr’s sell-out, 27 venue autumn tour.
Show and Tell has been made possible through a £124,735 grant from the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts awarded to the project by Nesta, the National Lottery through Arts Council England and Arts and Humanities Research Council. It is one of thirty six R&D projects currently in development that will be testing the use of digital technologies to widen audience access and engagement in the arts, with the purpose of developing useful products, services and knowledge for the wider arts and cultural sector.
Notes to Editors:
CIRCUS STARR (Arts Partner) Circus Starr is a world class, touring circus featuring acrobats, dancers and entertainers from across the globe. It is also an independent, charitable organisation that supports disabled, underprivileged and vulnerable children across the UK through a 75 venue tour held three times a year.
Circus Starr operates a unique Donated Ticket Programme that enables thousands of children to attend free circus shows thanks to the generous support of local businesses who, in turn, enjoy the opportunity to ‘give back’ to their communities. It works closely with parents, foster parents, teachers, Local Authorities and others caring for or working with disabled children or children and young people with statements of Special Educational Needs. The donated tickets provided are distributed to over 3,000 children’s charities and organisations throughout the UK.
Circus Starr launched as a Social Enterprise and became a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2010. Through its unique network of partner charities and local businesses, it provides over £1.3 million worth of free tickets to children, their families and community groups throughout the UK every year. www.circus-starr.org.uk
THERAPY BOX (Technical Partner) Technology partner Therapy Box is a UK based communication technology company that opened its doors in 2008, with an aim to provide creative, cool and affordable AAC solutions. TBoxApps, the app division of Therapy Box includes award winning AAC apps, Predictable and Scene & Heard. Founders Rebecca Bright and Swapnil Gadgil bring over a decade of experience and evidence delivering creative, cool and affordable AAC tools. Joining qualifications as a speech and language therapist in the field of adult neurological speech and language therapy, with an extensive background in the telecoms, retailing, and communications technology industry is the power behind TBoxApps apps solutions. In 2011, TBox Apps was awarded an MphasiS Universal Design Award for their AAC apps by The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP). www.therapy-box.co.uk
GLYNDWR UNIVERSITY (Research Partner) Based in Wrexham but with campuses and facilities around North East Wales. Glynd?r University champions the spirit of enterprise and an outward-facing philosophy. Inspired by Welsh hero Owain Glynd?r, it aims to be bold, inspiring and enterprising in everything it does. Courses are tailored to be relevant to industry and professional applications and the University works closely with partners in business including Airbus, the BBC and Active Childcare to ensure graduates get the skills they need to gain employment.
2010 saw the launch of the Advanced Composite Training and Development Centre, the result of a ground-breaking partnership between the University, Airbus, Deeside College and the Welsh Government. The centre is a prime example of how a partnership approach keeps them at the forefront of advances in technology and skills in key industry sectors.www.glyndwr.ac.uk
The Digital R&D Fund for the Arts is a £7 million fund to support collaboration between organisations with arts projects, technology providers, and researchers. It is a partnership between Arts Council England (www.artscouncil.org.uk), Arts and Humanities Research Council (www.ahrc.ac.uk) and Nesta (www.nesta.org.uk). We want to see projects that use digital technology to enhance audience reach and/or develop new business models for the arts sector. With a dedicated researcher or research team as part of the three-way collaboration, learning from the project can be captured and disseminated to the wider arts sector.
Every project needs to identify a particular question or problem that can be tested. Importantly this question needs to generate knowledge for other arts organisations that they can apply to their own digital strategies. Since the launch of the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts it has given funding and support to 24 digital projects
For more press information and images, please contact Cath Logan at Circus Starr
Tel: 01260 288690 Email: cath@circus-starr.org.uk www.circus-starr.org.uk
Starr in the Community CIC, registered in England & Wales, registered company no. 7477542
Registered office: Dane Mill, Broadhurst Lane, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1LA
