New research confirms benefits of circus and arts for young people

AUSTRALIA’S leading youth circus company, Spaghetti Circus, has released a new research report revealing the substantial positive impact of circus arts on young people’s mental health.

In collaboration with research agency Patternmakers, the study reported enhanced wellbeing, increased self-confidence, and stronger social bonds among participants.

It suggested that involvement in circus arts prepares young

people to face future challenges and inspires them to adopt healthier lifestyles.

The Mullumbimby-based creative company facilitates programs for diverse young people, producing original work and presenting the biennial National Circus Festival.

The report drew on insights from the Spaghetti Circus 2023 season of Monumental, including the response to local crises such as the 2022 floods and regional disengagement.

The findings, however, are nationally relevant and address widespread challenges, particularly in the wake of the pandemic and demonstrated the potential for similar initiatives nationwide to address youth wellbeing.

General Manager Alice Cadwell said creating Monumental had been exciting and challenging and had offered significant regional benefits.

“It was fantastic to work with Patternmakers to demonstrate what we all know in youth arts and circus: that we are changing lives and empowering healthy, creative, and confident kids,” Cadwell said.

The research also highlighted that participation in the arts equips young people with protective factors against mental illness, fosters leadership, and enhances physical and emotional resilience.

Key findings included that 88 per cent of participants reported their involvement positively impacted their overall wellbeing, 94 per cent reported they gained greater self-confidence, and 100 per cent said the program helped them connect with others and build lasting friendships.

Patternmakers Managing Director Tandi Palmer Williams said the statistics of challenges facing young people were well known.

“Australia’s social cohesion is also at an all-time low, so programs like this are becoming more valuable,” Palmer Williams said.

“From what happens in rehearsals to observing the performance and surveying the participants, it struck me how the troupe empowers the young performers and creates impacts that ripple throughout a community.

“From the starry-eyed children to their families and the general audiences, this program changes a community for the better, and that is incredibly powerful.

“I was so moved by the evaluation that I enrolled my child to start in the preschooler classes,” she said.

The report highlights the transformative impact of circus on regional youth and underscores its relevance for young people nationwide.