Clowning Connects Us | ClowNexus

ClowNexus is a large scale cooperation project co-funded by Creative Europe. From November 2020 to October 2023, eight European Healthcare Clowning Organisations will explore more in detail how arts and humour can be used to develop stronger social connections, and enable better communication with (1) people living with dementia, (2) children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their environments.
ClowNexus provides the space to develop new artistic formats and approaches in a co-creative process. Throughout the project clown artists from seven countries will meet in several artistic laboratories and develop new artistic formats and approaches together with their co-creators: elderly people with dementia, children and teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorder, their family members, carers, social experts and artists from other artistic fields.
With the project ClowNexus, the organizers want to find a common path to create, play, laugh and enjoy art together, giving time and space to everybody to express their perspectives, feelings and creativity.
The main project goals are:
- to improve the access to artistic performances and contribute to the social inclusion of people with dementia as well as children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- to strengthen the capacity of healthcare clowning organisations in Europe to co-create and to implement transformative learning processes
ClowNexus aims to:
- increase the wellbeing and social inclusion of vulnerable groups
- increase the capacity of healthcare clowning organisations to create art for and with vulnerable groups
- increase the awareness of the value of arts for well-being