Art Education Meets Circus Arts: Brittany Paul Expands Access to Aerial Training for Northwest Arkansas Youth

School of Art master's candidate Brittany Paul is expanding access to circus arts for a new generation of students. A student in the Art Education Program at the School of Art, Paul helps lead Ozark Cirque, where she curates aerial and movement-based learning opportunities.

Paul was recently featured on KNWA for Field Trip Friday to promote Ozark Cirque and inspire community members to see the touring production of Water for Elephants at the Walton Arts Center. Reporters learned foundational movements on silks and hoop, practicing skills such as foot locks and gentle inversions. Through the demonstration, Paul highlighted how circus arts education can support creativity, physical awareness and community building for learners of all ages and skill levels.

Ozark Cirque has experienced steady growth since Paul co-founded the organization in 2012. As Arkansas' first aerial arts program, the organization has grown to offer various youth and adult classes in Northwest Arkansas. Paul also works alongside April Mietz, who currently runs the aerial arts program.

The organization has also recently become an official vendor for the Educational Freedom Account funding program, which supports families who enroll homeschooled children in education-based services. Through this partnership, families can access funding to participate in youth programming, making aerial training more accessible. While in school, Paul has been developing in-school multicultural circus arts residencies that invite students to engage in movement, teamwork and creative storytelling.

"As a student at the School of Art, I study the many different forms art education can take," Paul said. "Circus arts teach youth and adults creative expression through movement, expanding what it means to learn in a community-based, experiential setting."

The Art Education master's program at the School of Art, which is housed in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, supports working professionals, artists and educators who want to build flexible and meaningful career paths. It encourages students to define what art education means in terms of their lives as scholars, educators and artists. Rooted in practice and pedagogy, the program allows students like Paul to tailor their studies to align with professional goals while deepening engagement with community-centered and interdisciplinary approaches to art education.

For more information about the School of Art's Art Education program, visit www.art.uark.edu.