Frequently Asked Questions

Just as food, safety, and shelter are necessary rights, so too are hope, laughter, and freedom of expression. One of the reasons we work with community partners is to make sure our program is not coming before basic needs are being met.

UNHCR breaks displacement into the following categories : asylum-seekers, refugees, internally displaced people, and stateless people (which can include indigenous people). Another key category of displaced people are “people experiencing protracted displacement,” which is displacement that has lasted for more than 5 years.

CWB responds to all types of displacement. We perform for refugees, internally displaced people, stateless people, migrants, and indigenous people. Additionally, we perform for communities who are not displaced, but who are in the process of surviving a crisis (such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or political instability).

Displacement is caused by human and environmental factors. A few examples of environmental factors are drought, hurricane, famine, or earthquake. Examples of human factors are war, political instability or persecution, economic instability, and gang violence. CWB does not discriminate based on the type of displacement. No matter what has led to displacement, children are never responsible for it.

Crisis can be an ambiguous term. For example, CWB – USA has worked in refugee camps, in shelters rapidly constructed after natural disasters, and in safe homes for women and children. We do not discriminate over which type of suffering deserves more attention. If a community says, “we are in crisis and we would like clowns,” we do everything we can to respond.

CWB goes where invited. We work with community partners to evaluate if we’ll truly meet the needs of our audiences. We’ve seen clowning have a positive impact in many situations, but respect that some communities might not want us to visit.

We are always looking for new partnerships and collaborations. Each of our programs has at least one partner. Sometimes, these are large NGOs, such as Terre des Hommes, PLAN International, Save the Children, or UNICEF. We also partner with grassroots and community organizations such as Clown Me In, Diyar Theatre, and CaliClown. To learn more, go to our Partner Page.

YES! Please contact naomi@clownswithoutborders.org with inquiries about fees and availability for performances, presentations, and workshops. You can also view our Work With Us page!

No. Clowns Without Borders is not in any way affiliated with Doctors Without Borders (but we have partnered with them on tours!). Doctors Without Borders is a registered trademark of Médecins Sans Frontières International.

Yes. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law, as Clowns Without Borders, Inc is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. EIN Tax ID is 20-4102508.

Check donations may be mailed to 624 West 139th Street, Suite 2A; New York, NY 10031. Check out our Donate page for more.

Clowns Without Borders takes a minimalist approach to costume and makeup. This choice reflects our focus on human connection and the intimacy of our performances, which often take place in close proximity to our audiences. By keeping our appearance simple, we ensure that the clown’s humanity is front and center, making it easier for audiences to connect emotionally.

Many of our clowns wear the classic red nose — the smallest and most universal costume piece. Some performers use minimal makeup to highlight features like their eyes, lips, or cheeks, enhancing their expressions without overwhelming their appearance. Wigs or more elaborate makeup are used occasionally if they suit the performance or cultural context, but they are not a standard part of our clowning style.

Ultimately, our goal is to adapt to the needs of each audience, using costumes and makeup as tools to serve the moment, while prioritizing the authenticity and joy that make CWB performances so special.

Coulrophobia, or the fear of clowns, is often connected to cultural references (like It!) and to excessive makeup hiding the performer’s face. One of the reasons we don’t wear full makeup is because we never want our audience to be afraid or to not be able to see the performer’s natural features. Throughout Latin America, where we have many programs, clowns and street performers are a beloved and common part of the culture.

Clowns Without Borders is committed to bringing laughter and relief to children and families living in crisis, no matter where they are. However, we are mindful of the ethical concerns surrounding some environments, particularly orphanages.

The history of orphanage trafficking — where children are trafficked or placed in orphanages to profit from voluntourism — is a serious issue. For this reason, we approach working in orphanages with great care. If we are invited to perform in a residential setting for children without parents, we conduct a thorough vetting process to ensure that the organization is legitimate, ethical, and prioritizes the well-being of the children.

While we rarely perform in orphanages, we remain open to opportunities where our performances can bring meaningful joy to children who truly need it. Our priority is always the safety, dignity, and happiness of the children we serve.

That depends. What type of clown are you? Clowns Without Borders (CWB) artists are contemporary circus performers who work in ensemble. The clown qualities we treasure are vulnerability, authenticity, and presence. We work with artist who use non-verbal storytelling, physical comedy, and circus skills. Face-painting, rainbow wigs and balloon-twisting are lots of fun, but not what we do. See our featured artist page to learn more.

CWB covers 100% of artists’ travel expenses, and pays a modest per diem. This is one of the reasons why casting is so selective. Casting is based on skill, not an artist’s ability to fundraise. There is no option to pay to participate.

Artists do not pay to participate. There is no pay-to-play option. The only way to go on a CWB tour is to go through the casting process, beginning with the application. This is how we maintain the highest performance standards.

To learn more about the types of artists we hire, look here at our featured artists. To apply to join us, check out our application page.

No. CWB is not a voluntourism program. We exist thanks to generous donors who love what we do. However, only professional artists are hired to work with us.

Our artists come from all over the world. We believe audiences benefit from seeing performers who share their national identity, language, and cultural history. To this end, we strive to create teams that reflect the diversity of our audiences and our world. Whenever possible, we cast artists from the country or region where we are performing.