Left Hands
80100 Abbeville
Les Mains Goch' — circus school and artistic collective
Les Mains Goch' is a circus school and artistic collective based in Abbeville, in the Somme . Created in 2002 by a group of friends passionate about circus and street arts, the association has been developing a project that is educational, artistic and cultural for over twenty years on the scale of Abbeville and the whole of Maritime Picardy.
The name "Les Mains Goch'" reflects the spirit of the project: when starting a new activity, everyone is a little "clumsy" . The association therefore promotes an accessible circus, in which everyone can discover, experiment, progress and find their place regardless of their starting level.
The activity was initially built around an educational project dedicated to circus arts. This gradually developed into a true circus school , which has become a reference structure for circus practice in Maritime Picardy.
Practice and audiences
Les Mains Goch' offer training ranging from initiation to advanced levels and appeal to a wide audience.
- More than 150 members attend regular classes according to the latest data published by the school.
- Nearly 2,000 children, young people and adults are introduced to circus arts through interventions in schools, leisure centers and socio-educational structures.
- Internships during school holidays allow for immersions over several days, combining technical practice, collective living and preparation of presentations or shows.
The courses are led by specialized and qualified instructors, and the educational project gradually guides practitioners towards greater technical mastery.
Subjects taught
- Juggling — a historical practice of the school.
- Balancing on objects — balance ball, wire, unicycle.
- Aerial disciplines — trapeze, rope, silks.
- Acrobatics and clowning complement the multidisciplinary approach.
Educational objectives
- Develop motor skills and coordination.
- Strengthen balance and concentration.
- Stimulate creativity and self-confidence.
- Learning to evolve and cooperate within a group .
Les Mains Goch' also organizes workshops during school holidays, allowing children and young people to discover the circus or develop their skills over several days.
The school has a significant outreach program: nearly 2,000 participants are reached through interventions conducted in schools, leisure facilities, and the socio-educational sector. This mobility is part of the association's identity, which operates throughout the Picardy Maritime region to develop access to circus arts.
Les Mains Goch' develops initiatives with people with disabilities and specialized facilities. This focus remains active in 2026 : a mission statement published by the association explicitly includes internal training dedicated to supporting people with disabilities and describes the organization as an introductory center for young people, adults, families, and people with disabilities.
The school has a section dedicated to interventions in specialized settings as well as a project called Cirk'ensemble. This inclusive dimension is fully integrated into the diversity of the audiences welcomed by the association.
Institutional recognition
The project has received several formal recognitions attesting to its educational and territorial role.
- Youth and Popular Education Accreditation No. 80/05/015 .
- National Education approval type 1 and 2, reference PIEP 12807 .
These recognitions reflect the importance of the educational work and interventions carried out with the institutions.
artistic collective
The street artists and circus performers involved in the association have come together to form a professional artistic collective. This collective develops shows , acts , short pieces and roving performances, blending circus, juggling, stilt walking, music, burlesque and street arts.
- The Winter Cabaret — 2024
- The Cabaret La Tête dans les Étoiles — 2019
- Tooth and Nails — 2016
- Hello Lucienne — 2016
The artists offer performances adapted to different events: street shows, shows for young audiences, parades combining music and circus arts, or cabarets under a big top. This professional activity creates a direct link between amateur schools and the world of live performance.
The big top
The association has its own marquee, used for certain events and occasionally for educational activities.
- Mobile structure measuring 15 meters by 20 meters .
- Surface area of approximately 300 m2 .
- Capacity for up to 200 seated people .
- Available for hire to companies, associations, festivals and private events.
Its mobility allows the association to temporarily set up in different territories, strengthening the visibility of circus arts and facilitating encounters with new audiences.
- Zic'O'Cirk
- The Fairy of Arts Darts
- The AJC festival
Les Mains Goch' participates in a regional dynamic around circus and street arts in Maritime Picardy . The association acts as a place for transmission, event organizer, artistic collective and territorial cultural actor.
The project remains highly relevant in 2026. The association continues its educational and artistic activities and is recruiting to develop awareness of circus arts among audiences with limited access to artistic and cultural activities. The mission statement published during the summer of 2026 emphasizes welcoming all audiences, supporting people with disabilities, and developing the school's programs.
The association remains present in the regional cultural programming through its artistic collective: interventions and promenades by Mains Goch' are programmed for the 2026-2027 season in the Hauts-de-France.
In Abbeville, Les Mains Goch' is much more than a leisure school: the association brings together a circus school, an important artistic education activity, inclusive and socio-educational actions, a collective of professional artists and a mobile big top.
From children discovering juggling for the first time to adults wishing to progress, from school interventions to projects with people with disabilities, from holiday camps to professional shows and street performances, Les Mains Goch' advocate an open and accessible circus, deeply rooted in its territory.
After more than twenty years of activity, the organization continues its initial objective: to introduce circus and street arts to all audiences and to create a real cultural dynamic around these practices in Maritime Picardy.
