Take Care Conference #3
November 7, 2026 | 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Theater am Werk at Kabelwerk, Vienna
Language: English
Intense work processes, challenging working conditions, and uncertain prospects—for many in the cultural sector, this is a daily reality. Is there another way? How can we work sustainably without losing sight of ourselves and one another?
The European Take Care closing conference is dedicated to the mental health and well-being of professionals in the circus and cultural sectors. Amid the hustle and bustle of the festival, this one-day event will focus on sustainable work practices, regeneration, curiosity as a tool, and the practical application of care.
Keynotes, workshops, short films and a panel discussion—featuring contributions from Anna Mendelssohn, Verena Schneider, Christina Rauchbauer, Chiara Marchese, and others—invite you to engage in dialogue. You’re cordially invited!
Free entrance | Registration needed
Program
9:30 a.m. | Registration & Coffee
10:00 a.m. | Opening Remarks
ON THE EDGE, CircusDanceFestival and FEDEC
10:15 | Keynote “Relationally Curious: Creating an Ecosystem of Care”
by Anna Mendelssohn—actress, performance artist, and systemic psychotherapist
10:40 | Keynote “Circus, Science & Care: CODARTS Take Care Survey Results”
by Rogier van Rijin—PhD in Human Movement Science, CODARTS Associate Professor
11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Concurrent workshops:
Bodies that Care: Rest, Risk, and Interdependence in Circus-
with Verena Schneider—interdisciplinary circus artist & Christina Rauchbauer—choreographer, performer, and theater educator
Relationally Curious: Curiosity as a Tool for Navigating an Ecosystem of Care
with Anna Mendelssohn—actress, performance artist, and systemic psychotherapist
Fit Your Brain: Physical Preparation and Stretching for Neurons
with Chiara Marchese—multidisciplinary artist
1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Lunch break @ Genuss am Werk (Registration required)
2:30–3:10 p.m. | Screening of the four TAKE CARE short films
with videographers and Take Care partners Miikkael Kukkula and Filip Jacobson
3:10–4:40 p.m. | Panel “Conscious Creatures: An Artistic Exploration of Mental Health”
featuring Chiara Marchese, Miikkael Kukkula, Filip Jacobson, and Isabel Joly, moderated by Valentina
Barone. Live drawing by Birgit Kellner
4:40–5:00 p.m. | Snacks & Beverages
Followed by the ON THE EDGE evening program:
5:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. | Running Gag (Sööt/Zeyringer)
7:00 p.m. | Cracks in the Wood (Maria Madeira)
9:00 p.m. | Dark Glowing (Laurence Felber)
Take Care is co-funded by the European Commission’s Creative Europe program. The project is led by FEDEC – International Network for Professional Circus Education.
Read more on the conference in an article by Valentina Barone