After a review of thirty-three entries from France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, South Africa, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the USA, S.A.S. la Princesse Stéphanie of Monaco named Richard Molinier's logo design as the winner.
The new logo is a tri-colour design with a performing horse, flying trapeze artists and a clown's face under a circus tent set against a map of the world.
"I tried to symbolize the heart of the circus with a horse, trapeze and clown," wrote designer Molinier of L'Isle-sur-Tarn, France. A life-long circus enthusiast and friend to many European circus artists, Molinier explained that some of his fondest childhood memories were trips with his uncle to the circus. A member of the French Club du Cirque, he is a strong supporter of the circus, including animals and humans working together. He closed his letter of submission for the competition with a hearty "Vive le cirque!"
"We were thrilled with the response to our logo competition and very impressed with the diversity of designs," said Laura van der Meer, Executive Director of the Federation. "Narrowing down the selection to five for the Princess was a difficult task, but I think her choice captures the global circus community uniting under one Big Top." The new logo is incorporated into the Federation website at www.circusfederation.org or www.cirquemondial.org
The Federation was launched in January 2008 as a non-profit association of circus organizations, the first of its kind in the world. Inspired by the late Prince Rainier III of Monaco, it operates under the patronage of his daughter, S.A.S. la Princesse Stéphanie. Its goal is to bring together the global circus community in order to promote and preserve circus arts and culture around the world.
Founding Members of the Federation comprise the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo, the Outdoor Amusement Business Association of the USA, the European Circus Association, the Circus Federation of Australia, the Animal Interest Alliance of South Africa, and the Canadian based En Piste.
To print the logo for the purpose of publication, download logo here.
This is the organization OABA joined up with this past winter. I am confident the benefits of this association will impact the American Circus soon enough. The new logo pretty much covers the circus "arts" doesn't it. LOL I would sure like to see the logo designs that were rejected. It might give us an indication of which way the "politically correct winds are blowing" and who is helping who, and who is helping themselves. I'll bet if the world globe had been spun a bit to the right, the United States may have been more then just an after thought. Feature act, Center Ring by the French artist for the Riviera Monarchy, European Nations!!!!!!
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10 comments:
Hi Wade. Surely the reason the FMC's new logo centres on Monte Carlo and Europe is that the organisation owes its existence to the Monegasque royal family? Their input and very public support is a huge factor in keeping Circus in a position of esteem in the mind of the public -- we need to be thought of as an 'art-form'as well as an 'entertainment', and I have always been sickened by the put-downs we get, so it's great to have someone backing us and putting the circus right up there where it belongs. One of the greatest things about Circus is its internationalism; we belong to the circus community almost as strongly as we belong to our 'home' countries, so maybe national boundaries shouldn't be as important to us as they are to the non-circus people.
Chris,
I am sure it is in the middles because every thing is an after thought, including the circus. They have cheapened the Circus into a groveling spectacle of peaseants appearing for crowns and franks in the shape of fake gold clown. The put down came because of what the circus had become, and Monte Carlo is a perfect example of that. They have allowed themselves to be used, and played with in a grandiose effort at being something it is not. It is entertainment plain and simple, and a commercial enterprise for Monaco plain and simple. We are the only industry thanking them for the embarrassment of being their puppet and play thing. Every other industry gets riches, we get a bag of handouts. No Chris it is a sham, plain and simple, noting to be proud of.
Wade
Wade:
I'm sorry, but I can't agree with the sentiments of your comment. Everything's commercial, so that can't be an objection. Nor do I think accepting a trophy makes anyone servile. I realise the US is a republic, and I'm not a great supporter of monarchs and hereditary privilege, but every successful commercial set-up benefits from endorsement by the famous and the respected. Don't you have the Circus of the Stars TV show, where celebs involve themselves and thus maintain a public perception of Circus as on a level with the best? The endorsement of Circus by Prince Rainier, together with Princess Grace and her former Hollywood colleagues such as Cary Grant, drew attention to the circus arts in a way which the public see as associating the circus with such as opera, theatre etc., and so with the highest art-forms. Here in Europe now, and surely also in the States, that association is very valuable; far too many people here see the circus as some sort of cheap rubbish for kids. I don't thank Princess Stephanie and Prince Albert because I have some concept regarding their 'high rank', but I do thank them for their valuable support. Ultimately, if people see how good the best can be, and if that best is associated with wealth and high society, then that comes down the line to help us all earn a living!
Chris,
The accepting of a trophy for being the best, won in a legitimate, valid competition is an honor. That is not the case with MC or other Circus Awards deals. They are pageants, not competitions the same as a Miss World or Miss America. Strictly fluff and commercialization. And they don't try to be something they are not. The are a pageant, plain and simple.
You mention the second worst thing to happen to the circus, Circus of the Stars. Giving the illusion that anybody can be a performer, it is no big deal in two weeks or less. When was the last time a circus performer was asked to so something in the other forms of entertainment, or to endorse something. Never!!!!! And do you know why? Because we are just happy being acknowledged.
Endorsements from the famous and respected? Where do you get that nonsense? Because Cary Grant and some others hung out years, and years ago to get the free drinks, and a weekend with their pal Princess Grace??? The Circus allowed itself to be "played" with, and sadly still does. We even con each other, Chris.
This quote says it all Chris. "Ultimately, if people see how good the best can be, and if that best is associated with wealth and high society, then that comes down the line to help us all earn a living!
People don't see the best doing anything. They see the ones who make themselves available at that time, to grovel and be associated with wealth and high society, under the illusion that they are now "just like high society". That is called sucking hind tit Chris. It is the reason why there is no respect for the profession!!!!! You put a pig in tails, you don't get Fred Astaire, you get a well dressed pig. Thats all. We have let ourselves become the mistress to a few self serving individuals. Instead of begging for acknowledgment and acceptance we should have been earning it.
Wade
Wade:
We'd better agree to differ! I'm talking about what people perceive, not about what's real -- would you go in the ring in working clothes because that's reality, or do you want the people to enjoy the illusion that we all walk round in rhinestones all day? If we don't raise our image, we ultimately won't survive, no matter how good we REALLY are.
Can I just add that I agree about the 'do a circus act in a week' idea -- we had the same type of 'participation' shows in the UK in the past, and they just cheapen us all. I only mentioned Circus of the Stars to make the point about endorsement by the famous.
Chris,
There you finally said it. The image had to be raised. But you do not raise it with illusions. People are impressed with an illusion, but they know it is not real. We should have address how the image got lowered and who lowered it, instead of still trying to blend into a facade. MC was lowered long ago, and has lowered at a more rapid pace in the last 10 years. The public quite being impressed with the illusion, and me Chris, I know how a magic trick is done.
You mention Circus of the Stars, as being a type "of endorsement which actually cheapens our profession" Yet, you accept MC as something different? Anything you attach to, to give an illusion of something you are not cheapens you.
With respect, we fool ourselves with an illusion, and we assume the world is as gullible, yet we for get the world has no friends is the circus like we do, and they may be looking at our illusion differently.
Wade
Chris,
What I am suggesting is let it be what it is and what it wants to be, a Festival, nothing more nothing less. What may have started out with more or less good intentions over 30 years ago, was doomed to deteriorate to it's present state. Class is not something that can be faked, going to a posh restaurant does not make you posh, and sleeping with a queen does not make you a King.
Wade
Nice one, Wade! The circus is already up there as the best thing in the world -- let's keep it there!
Chris,
I agree. I was stereotyped the day I joined the circus, yet I had nothing to do with it's history. I never took it personal, as I hadn't done any of the things that were eventually exposed, as I never took the animal movement personal as it was never directed at me personally. It was directed at an industry that I had stepped into. An industry that has historically ran from the crappiest show to the greatest spectacle and everything in between. Nothing in the world of entertainment has that kind of a spread. Worse it was maintained by friendships and family ties, with their own set of standards.
I also saw the World Wrestling Federation(and boy is that crap) move it's self out of the stereotype it had in the early 50's by using celebrities and phony wealth. But they knew sophistication and culture is not who you know, how you dress, or who you hob knob with. Sophistication and culture is something you ARE or you ARE NOT. It's not something you think you ARE with pretense. The difference was the celebrities came to them, they didn't suck up to the celebrities. You know why? They knew what they were, they weren't trying to be anything else, and they were proud of it, and well on their way to phenomenal success and riches. They didn't need to pretend anything. They even had "guest" celebrities perform. But as a joke, not one standing ovation or rhythmic clap was ever given in an attempt to validate or gain their friendship, so you could poo poo to your colleagues. Once WWF was on it's way, they said thank you. Don't call us, we'll call you. The Circus is the only industry that not only endorses, but seeks advise from people outside or not involved with it. Add that to the generational grip, the larceny and setting of self serving laws, and it is real easy to see how we went from being the largest form of live entertainment to our current state, left in the dust by Hollywood, the music industry, Rodeo, World Wrestling Entertainment and Broadway. The only thing that got choked on their dust heavier then the Circus was Vaudeville. Any similarities between those last two?
Wade
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