We are thrilled to announce that Outdoor Arts Italia has joined the Panel of Experts for Circostrada SPARK Research Lab on Fair Practices and Equitable Working Conditions!. This is a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to the development and promotion of the outdoor arts sector in Italy and beyond.
SPARK Research Lab is an initiative by Circostrada, the European network for contemporary circus and outdoor arts, and is dedicated to advancing fair practices and equitable working conditions within our fields. Between 2025 and 2026, SPARK will undertake a series of consultations and research, engaging key stakeholders to understand the realities of the sector across Europe and propose relevant policy recommendations.
Our participation in this expert group represents an excellent opportunity for Outdoor Arts Italia and for Federico Toso, responsible for the development of OCA for Rete Doc, to share significant experiences, best practices and research from the Centro Studi Doc. As members of the panel, we will be actively involved in:
- guiding the research scope and ensuring its relevance to the most pressing issues faced by artists and cultural professionals in the outdoor arts sector;
- validating the research methodology to ensure it is ethical and inclusive, reflecting the diverse realities of our community;
- providing sector and country-specific insights based on our expertise and deep understanding of the Italian outdoor arts landscape, including perspectives on labor practices and existing policy gaps;
- sharing lived experiences to contribute valuable input for informing policy recommendations that accurately reflect the working conditions in our sector;
- supporting the formulation of realistic and actionable policy recommendations that can be presented to political decision-makers at national and European levels;
- contributing to the dissemination of the research findings and policy recommendations to ensure they reach the relevant audiences and stakeholders.
This involvement in SPARK will allow us to gather even more data and information, further strengthening our ability to contribute to meaningful research and the drafting of impactful policy documents for political decision-makers. We believe that by actively participating in this European-level initiative, we can amplify the voices and needs of the Italian outdoor arts community and work towards a more sustainable, equitable, and fair sector for all.
We look forward to collaborating with Dr. Matina Magkou, the lead researcher and the other members of the Panel of Experts from across Europe. We are confident that this collective effort will lead to significant advancements in fair practices and working conditions for the contemporary circus and outdoor arts sectors.
Stay tuned for updates on our involvement in the SPARK Research Lab and its progress!