Our history

Since 1993. More than 30 years drawing smiles.

"On February 23, 1993, we left Barcelona for a refugee camp near Italy. With our show, we managed to get families at war to laugh together until they cried. At that moment, we understood that laughter could be a weapon of mass reconstruction. That's how Clowns Without Borders was born."

Tortell Poltrona
Founder and president of PSF

How did it all start?

During Christmas 1992, Tortell Poltrona received a call from some boys and girls of the Escuela Proyecto de Barcelona where they proposed him to take his show to the Yugoslavian war for the children of a refugee camp with whom they communicated through a pioneering telematic network.  They proposed to hold a simultaneous Peace Day in the schools connected to the network and wanted to send joy to the war in the Balkans. The children in Barcelona had collected their money for the expenses of the trip.

The first trip to Yugoslavia

On February 26, 1993, Tortell Poltrona, together with his partner Montserrat Trias and his son, Blai Mateu, performed the first show in the refugee camp of Veli Joze in Savudrija, present-day Croatia.  In this performance, the different families confronted by the war laughed together, turning laughter into a song to peace and resilience; evidencing the usefulness of circus arts as a weapon of mass construction and social transformation.

Clowns Without Borders Foundation

It was decided to make a second trip two months later with a group of jugglers (Boni and Caroli). This trip laid the foundations for the creation of an organization that would help artists to repeat these experiences; doing shows for people suffering from crisis situations, especially for children, free of charge, as the children of the Projecte school had initially requested.

International expansion

In 1994 there were 19 expeditions. In the following years, respecting the same ethical standards with which the Spanish organization was founded, new organizations were created in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, Sweden and the USA. There are now 15 member countries.  The Spanish section works both nationally for the most disadvantaged children in Spain, and internationally for refugee and displaced children affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters, and has carried out more than 500 expeditions that have benefited millions of children around the world.

International recognition

Relevant milestones
in these 30 years

Since its inception, we have made a difference in the lives of many. Each milestone reflects our commitment to laughter and hope.

2025

International Lifetime Achievement Award

Catalan Fund for Development Cooperation

2024

Gold Medal

Official College of Social Work of Catalonia

2023

Anna Lizarán

Butaca Awards

2021

Gold Medal

Academy of Performing Arts of Spain

2020

Sant Jordi’s cross

Government of the Generalitat de Catalunya

2017

Study of the impact of PSF interventions in Lebanon.

Trauma, Crisis and Conflict Unit of Barcelona (UTCCB), part of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).

2014

XIII Joan Alsina Human Rights Award

2012

Clowns Without Borders International Foundation.

2008

UNESCO Dionysus Prize

Unesco Center of the Community of Madrid

1998

Declared of Public Utility

Ministry of the Interior

1996

Medal of Fine Arts

INAEM

1994

Gold Medal

to the social, political and cultural merit of Palestine

1993

PSF Foundation

532

expeditions

2.382

expeditionaries

10.407

shows

Millions

smiles 🙂

"To provoke a smile in people who have many reasons to be sad is an immense victory. It is a salutary act for the heart and mind. It is the most serious thing one can conceive of. There is nothing better."

Vicenç Fisas
Conflict and peace analyst

Our history

"On February 23, 1993, we left Barcelona for a refugee camp near Italy. With our show, we managed to get families at war to laugh together until they cried. At that moment, we understood that laughter could be a weapon of mass reconstruction. That's how Clowns Without Borders was born."

Relevant milestones in these 30 years

2025

2024

2023

2021

2020

2017

2014

2012

2008

1998

1996

1994

1993

Information

Collaborations

Legal

Contact