Karen Bell
Clowns and Characters
Karen Bell has a 27-year career as a Professional Circus Clown and is the only female clown with a solo-ring gag at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. As a ‘Producing’ Clown for Ringling, she created material to perform and other clowns on the show. Karen toured the world clowning with Ringing and the Department of Defense. Since 2005, she has worked with The Circus Arts Conservatory. She has helped the Outreach programs to excel by developing original and creative group programs. She has been involved in the development of Humor Therapy Clown programs in local Nursing Homes and hospitals. Currently, she is instrumental in creating a curriculum based education program for The Circus Arts Conservatory, teaching area students; theater, language arts, and physical science. Karen was presented with the Nancy Roucher Arts Education Award at the 2016 Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County’s annual “Celebration of the Art”. Karen was also featured on ABC7’s “Amazing Women of the Suncoast” by Linda Carson.