Showtown & Blackpool Council are proud to announce the acquisition of the Charlie Cairoli Collection - celebrating the legacy of laughter from one of the 20th century's most iconic clowns.
This collection highlights Blackpool's significance both locally and nationally in the evolution of British popular culture and the acquisition now means that the collection will be secured for future generations.
Work will soon be undertaken by the curatorial team at Showtown's History Centre to preserve and make the collection accessible through various venues across Blackpool.
The plan is for the large array of treasures to be featured in rotating displays at Showtown and will also be available for viewing and research at the Showtown History Centre, located within Blackpool Central Library. The Blackpool Tower will also dedicate a display space to the collection as a historic landmark deeply connected to Charlie Cairoli's prestigious career.
Caroline Hall, Curatorial and Collections Manager at Showtown said:
“We are thrilled and incredibly grateful for the support we have been given to acquire this amazing collection. Charlie Cairoli has always been important to Blackpool, for the joy he brought to so many, and this acquisition ensures Charlie’s legacy is always celebrated in our vibrant seaside town.
For Showtown the collection also gives us an incredible window into the culture, history, performance and art & design of the world of Circus. Blackpool Tower Circus has brought the best of international circus to our doorsteps every year for 130 years and this collection will enrich and grow our understanding of the significance of the Tower Circus and the acts that have performed there.
The acquisition by Showtown & Blackpool Council has been made possible thanks to generous funding from the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Art Fund & Friends of the National Libraries.
Leanne Manfredi, National Programmes Lead at the V&A said:
“The Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund supports the purchase of a wide range of material for the permanent collections of non-nationally funded organisations in England and Wales. We are delighted that the Charlie Cairoli Collection of Circus and Performance 1775-1990s has been acquired by Blackpool Showtown, it will benefit audiences and researchers for years to come.”
Geordie Greig, Chair, Friends of the National Libraries said:
“It is always marvellous to be able to help an important local institution such as Showtown, Blackpool’s innovative, and first permanent, museum. To be able to help it acquire a very important collection relating to its entertainment history - circus, one of Blackpool’s most significant entertainments - is exactly what FNL likes to support. We are so glad that our contribution helped make this purchase possible.”
The collection includes materials from the renowned Fratellini family, which highlight the deep connections within the global circus community and the tradition of passing down skills and routines through generations.
This acquisition not only preserves the legacy of circus performance but also strengthens Blackpool’s status as a national hub for entertainment history and research.
A standout element of the collection is a series of letters from the British entertainment industry, written in support of Charlie during World War II, which offers valuable insight into his experiences during this challenging period.
The materials also include programmes, handbills, and correspondence that document Charlie's performances at the Tower Circus and his contributions to the war effort through numerous performances across the country.
Showtown is developing an exhibition exploring Blackpool, its entertainers and its residents during the WWII period, due to open spring 2025. This exhibition offers an exciting opportunity to delve deeper into this collection and discover the impact the war period had on performers like Cairoli.
A selection of artifacts from the Charlie Cairoli Collection is currently on display at Showtown and The Blackpool Tower.
The complete collection and catalogue will be accessible following the reopening of the Showtown History Centre in Summer 2025.
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