Circus 4 Gaza Fundraiser

Portal Studios Art Society and Elektric Collective are proud to present the Circus 4 Gaza Fundraiser. Please join us for a day of community circus to raise money for Gaza Circus School and The Sameer Project! There will be games, crafts, and roving performers throughout the day and a Circus Showcase starting at 6:00PM!

All ages/family friendly, Circus Play Zone, Games, Craft Station, Photo Booth, Face Painting by donation, Food & Drinks by donation, Raffle, Roving Performers, Circus Showcase ft ground and aerial acts, Live music DJs

Doors: 2:00PM

Welcoming Ceremony: 2:30PM

Circus Showcase: 6:00PM

Event Ends: 8:00PM

Tickets: Sliding scale donation $20-$40 adults (suggested minimum donation of $30 for single adult general admission, PWYC for those experiencing financial barriers). Sliding scale donation of $10-$15 per Youth under 18. *You can donate towards multiple admissions in a single donation (i.e. $60 for 2 adult admissions)- please indicate how many admissions you will be requiring on the order form. *

*Please note that this is an outdoor event with access to some indoor spaces. The main level of the event is wheelchair accessible from the street. There are stairs leading to the upper levels of the event. This event will run rain or shine, with the exception of severe weather. Please notify the hosts if you have questions about accessibility or require any accommodations, we are more than happy to assist.*

We acknowledge with gratitude that this event takes place on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

About the fundraiser:

For the past two years, the Palestinian people have been enduring a horrific genocide. The Israeli Occupational Forces have denied the entry of necessities such as food, water, shelter, and medicine into Gaza whilst relentlessly advancing their destruction of homes, schools, food distribution centres, and refugee camps. Our Western governments have proven their complicity in this genocide by refusing to enact economic sanctions and arms embargoes against Israel while upholding racist immigration policies against Palestinian refugees. It is up to us- the people- to take action!

All proceeds from this fundraiser will be donated to 2 organizations in Gaza that are working tirelessly to assist families that have been displaced: Gaza Circus School and The Sameer Project.

Gaza Circus School (IG: @gazacircus_school) provides psychological support to children in Gaza affected by the genocide. "Hello, my name is Ahmed, and I am the founder of the Gaza Circus School. In 2011, I created this school with a simple but powerful mission: to bring joy, hope, and a sense of community to the children. Our circus was a sanctuary where children could learn the beautiful arts of gymnastics, acrobatics, juggling, and aerial performance. Over the years it grew into one of the best circus school, a place filled with laughter, talent, and big dreams. But the war has taken everything from us. Our school was completely destroyed, and all of our equipment, lighting, and curtains were lost." Currently, members of the school are facing displacement, starvation, and IOF violence. Despite these unimaginable hardships, Gaza Circus School continues to provide essential psychological support for the children of Gaza through community events to help them temporarily forget the horrors of the genocide and remember that they are kids again. They are hoping to rebuild their training facility and to build a travelling circus car. Laughter heals, and play is resistance. The Vancouver circus community firmly stands behind the mission of the Gaza Circus School and the invaluable work they are doing in Gaza.

View the Gaza Circus School Go Fund Me page:

https://tinyurl.com/gazacircusschoolfundraiser

The Sameer Project (IG: @thesameerproject): Mass Displacement Response Campaign

"The Sameer Project is a donations based aid initiative, led by four Palestinians in the diaspora, working to supply an emergency response and funding to the displaced families in Gaza. The initiative was originally formed to secure, purchase, and distribute tents in Southern Gaza and now also provides food and water for displaced families. We also support critical medical cases with treatment, medication, and clinic referrals to those who would otherwise not be able to afford medical intervention." The Sameer Project hopes to address the current mass displacement by expanding their camps to shelter an additional 2000 people. These expansions will include 2 large medical points to serve people for free, an ambulance area for civil defense workers, a large school for 800-900 children, extra toilets, tarps and more community services.