Circus objects to notice issued by Education Directorate

A circus that will be in Malta next month has filed a judicial protest against the Education Directorate after it instructed state schools not to take children to circuses.

JS Productions Ltd, acting on behalf of Circo Fantasy, filed the protest against the Director General of the Education Directorate, Micheline Sciberras, the chairman of the Broadcasting Authority and the Attorney General.

The company said that according to the European report on the importance and dynamics of the theatre and performing arts in an enlarged Europe, circuses were considered a performing art. The European Parliament also adopted a resolution calling on the European Commission to take the necessary steps to have circuses treated as part of European culture.

The media allowed groups opposed to circuses to say that circuses treated animals badly, something which, the company insisted, was unfounded.

This, it added, caused Circo Fantasy to suffer losses, culturally and financially.

In late October, when the notice was first issued, Ms Sciberras had said: "We are very attentive to ensure children only go to educational activities. We are cautious as to how many activities they go to each year and there is increased awareness on animal rights."

Lawyers Sharon Mizzi and Gianfranco Gauci signed the protest.