Dear members of the juggling and circus community,
The European Juggling Association (EJA) would like to thank you for voicing your concerns through the petition “Jugglers for Palestine on the European Juggling Convention”. We hear that many in our community are expressing solidarity with Palestine. We also recognise this as a call for conversation, broader inclusion, and meaningful community-ownership of our conventions.
We would like to share three key points on behalf of the EJA.
- Support opening the conversation further in the community
The petition signals that members of our community would like more space for dialogue and engagement around sensitive topics. We understand this as an invitation to continue an open conversation together, and we are willing to do so.
We encourage people in our diverse community to bring constructive and practical ideas forward through volunteering with future EJC organising teams. The EJA is committed to providing opportunities for discussion in a constructive and practical manner.
- The role of the EJA the autonomy of EJC organising teams
While the EJA helps support continuity, provides frameworks, and safeguards the long-term health of the European Juggling Convention, decisions for each EJC ultimately lie with the specific organising team of that year.
We are already working alongside current and future organisers to support them in matters such as inclusion, community care, and safety. We expect that what we learn through EJC2025 can help strengthen the EJC2026 event and beyond.
- Collaboration in the spirit of “for and by jugglers”
Our community has long been rooted in values of care, respect, and voluntary engagement. In that spirit, the EJA opposes all forms of oppression, discrimination, militarization, and genocide, and supports efforts within the community to create inclusive and compassionate spaces.
To that end:
- We welcome ideas on how the community would like to engage with upcoming EJCs.
- We invite collaboration between interested community members, the EJA, and future organising teams.
- We aim to help facilitate cooperation between the wider juggling community and EJC organisers.
We are committed to listening and working with you and the community. Please reach out if you would like to continue the conversation; we are open to helping coordinate dialogue sessions or other forms of engagement. Examples already emerging from joint efforts include creating dedicated spaces at EJCs for discussions on politically sensitive topics, identifying a country contact for Palestine, and collaborating with the EJC 2026 team to support an inclusive convention.
Thank you for your dedication to our community and your willingness to help shape its future.
With respect,
European Juggling Association