En Piste

En Piste, formally known as En Piste, regroupement national des arts du cirque, is a Canadian association whose mission is to promote circus arts and to gain recognition for the field among the public, presenters, government bodies, and business and social communities in Canada. Its head office is located in Montreal. The organization was born in 1994 through the initiative of Jan Rok Achard, then director of the École nationale de cirque, who called the community together to discuss the situation of circus arts. That first gathering became La Trac, the sectoral roundtable for circus arts. In 1996 it became an association grouping twelve companies, with a mission to gain recognition for circus arts and to create actions that would multiply business opportunities for member companies. Over the following years, the many specific needs of people in the field led the group to broaden its reflections and actions to the entire circus community — artists, creators, trainers, companies, educational institutions, presenters, and others. En Piste is a membership-based, non-profit-style national grouping rather than a commercial circus producer, though it is closely tied to the development of Montreal's circus ecosystem, including the Cité des arts du cirque and La Tohu. It has been involved in major sectoral milestones such as the first États généraux des arts du cirque in 1999, the recognition of circus arts by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec in 2001, and the creation of the Festival Montréal complètement cirque, whose first edition took place in 2010. In 2023 it awarded its first Prix de reconnaissance en arts du cirque to Yamoussa Bangoura, Éliane Bonin, and Victor Fomine.

En Piste traces its origins to 1994, when Jan Rok Achard, then director of the École nationale de cirque, initiated a call to the circus community to discuss the situation of circus arts. This first initiative gave rise to La Trac, the sectoral roundtable for circus arts. In 1996, this assembly became an association grouping twelve companies. Its mission at that time was to gain recognition for circus arts and to put in place actions to multiply business opportunities for member companies. The circus Parasol was born from this grouping. Over the following years, the many specific needs of people in the field led the grouping to broaden its reflections and actions to the entire circus community — artists, creators, trainers, companies, educational institutions, presenters, and others. In 1997, En Piste was incorporated. In 1999, the first États généraux des arts du cirque were held on En Piste's initiative, and En Piste, Cirque du Soleil, and the École nationale de cirque worked on a project for a Cité des arts du cirque, which would become La Tohu in 2004. In 2001, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) recognized circus arts as an art in its own right — a first victory for the organization and its members. In 2003, En Piste moved into new offices within the Cité des arts du cirque, and, recognized by Emploi Québec and the CQRHC, it became able to offer continuing professional training to its members. In 2004, La Tohu was created. In 2007, the second États généraux des arts du cirque were held; for the first time, civil servants took part in the discussions, allowing the dialogue to open outward. In 2008, circus arts were recognized by the Conseil des arts de Montréal; on February 1, 2008, Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay and Conseil des arts de Montréal president Louise Roy announced that the council would henceforth support the creation, production, and dissemination of circus arts on the island of Montreal. In 2009, En Piste presented a review of Espaces Cirque in Montreal (57 pages); the evolving guide, produced with financial support from the Conseil des arts de Montréal, surveyed the places where circus acts and shows can be practiced and presented in Montreal by neighbourhood and clearly identified sub-categories. That same year, En Piste participated in the creation of the Festival Montréal complètement cirque; media noted their surprise at such broad and transparent collaboration within the Montreal circus community, made possible notably through En Piste's mediation. In 2010, the first edition of the Festival Montréal complètement cirque took place, and the national forum held its first truly pan-Canadian meeting. In 2011, a Quebec sectoral diagnosis was published, and the first international meeting in Montreal of "Planète Cirque" was held — a committee bringing together six directors of contemporary circus associations to address topics as varied as continuing education, artists' career transitions, and workplace safety; the meeting would thereafter take place annually as part of Montréal Complètement Cirque. In 2012, En Piste celebrated its 15th anniversary and was among the nine finalists of the 27th Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal. In 2023, the winners of the first Prix de reconnaissance en arts du cirque were Yamoussa Bangoura, Éliane Bonin, and Victor Fomine.

• 2023

  The first Prix de reconnaissance en arts du cirque are awarded to Yamoussa Bangoura, Éliane Bonin, and Victor Fomine.

• 2012

  En Piste celebrates its 15th anniversary and is among the nine finalists of the 27th Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal.

• 2011

  Publication of a Quebec sectoral diagnosis; first international meeting in Montreal of "Planète Cirque".

• 2010

  First edition of the Festival Montréal complètement cirque; the national forum holds its first truly pan-Canadian meeting.

• 2009

  En Piste presents a 57-page review of Espaces Cirque in Montreal and participates in the creation of the Festival Montréal complètement cirque.

• 2008

  Circus arts are recognized by the Conseil des arts de Montréal; the council announces support for creation, production, and dissemination of circus arts on the island of Montreal.

• 2007

  Second États généraux des arts du cirque; for the first time, civil servants take part in the discussions.

• 2004

  La Tohu is created.

• 2003

  En Piste moves into new offices within the Cité des arts du cirque; recognized by Emploi Québec and the CQRHC, it becomes able to offer continuing professional training.

• 2001

  The Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) recognizes circus arts as an art in its own right.

• 1999

  First États généraux des arts du cirque on En Piste's initiative; En Piste, Cirque du Soleil, and the École nationale de cirque work on a Cité des arts du cirque project.

• 1997

  Incorporation of En Piste.

• 1996

  The assembly becomes an association grouping twelve companies; creation of En Piste.

• 1994

  Jan Rok Achard, then director of the École nationale de cirque, initiates a call to the circus community; La Trac, the sectoral roundtable for circus arts, is born.

A national sectoral association and advocacy body for circus arts in Canada, based in Montreal, focused on recognition, professional development, and business opportunities for the circus community.

• Membership services for circus arts professionals

• Professional continuing education

• Sectoral advocacy and representation

• Networking and business development events

• Sectoral studies and directories (e.g., Espaces Cirque guide)

• États généraux des arts du cirque

• Prix de reconnaissance en arts du cirque

• Planète Cirque international committee

1. 1En Piste, regroupement national des arts du cirque — Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org
2. 2En Piste — Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Site officielenpiste.qc.ca