Contemporary circus

As part of its CS Voices project (2024–2028), funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Culture, Circostrada, the European network for circus and street arts coordinated by ARTCENA, is publishing a series of policy briefs on national dynamics for the international community.This publication is part of a series of notes designed to inform the network's strategic thinking, share analysis at the European level and propose policy recommendations. It was written in consultation with several major players in the sector: circusnext, the French Federation of Circus Schools, Territoires de cirque and the Syndicat des cirques et compagnies de création.

Four major challenges have been identified: The economic fragility of companies, exacerbated by rising costs, declining public subsidies, fewer co-productions and shrinking tours.

• The difficulties of staging shows in big tops, which face economic and ecological constraints while playing an essential role in providing access to culture.
• The fragmentation of training courses for artists and teachers, requiring greater professional recognition.
• European cooperation, which is essential for enhancing the visibility and mobility of works, but is still under-exploited by the French sector.
• In light of these findings, the note presents three objectives: to collectively identify the challenges facing the circus sector in France, to formulate policy recommendations to strengthen its structure, and to feed into the European dialogue by sharing practices and perspectives. For more information, read the full note and all the recommendations.

Download the French version here.

Explore Touring, programming and funding big tops in Europe: Ecology - A Case Study of BIAC’s Village Chapiteaux, a compelling deep-dive into the ecological transformation of one of Europe’s flagship circus events. This case study, part of Circostrada’s Touring, programming and funding big tops in Europe, examines the Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its iconic big top village in Marseille. Through successes, challenges, and practical insights, it highlights how sustainability can be woven into large-scale cultural events. Developed within the CS VOICES project, it aims to inspire other circus organisations to embrace eco-responsibility as a core value. Join Circostrada in reimagining the future of circus—one that balances creativity with care for the planet.

The case study is written by Axel Satgé and Déborah Boëno, authors of the Touring, programming and funding big tops in Europe Thematic Guide.

CROSSING VOICES – THE CHALLENGES OF PRODUCING AND TOURING UNDER A BIG TOP

For the second episode of Crossing Voices, host Maaike Muis brings together Julien Auger from the international circus company Circus I Love You and Luke Hallgarten, artistic director of the UK company Revel Puck Circus to explore the complex blend of tradition and innovation that defines contemporary circus, as well as the logistical and financial hurdles of working in temporary spaces. With practical advice and honest insights, this episode sheds light on the world of self-produced contemporary circus performances and the realities of bringing art to life under the big top.

Crossing Voices – Linking European and international perspectives in contemporary circus and outdoor arts is designed to highlight the voices of key players in the contemporary circus and outdoor arts sectors. This podcast is part of the read-thread followed by Circostrada's new project, CS VOICES. The podcast aims to foster a continuous dialogue on current issues, bringing together diverse perspectives to inspire meaningful change in both the arts and policymaking, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable cultural landscape.

Listen to the podcast episode here and choose your favourite channel.

Touring, Programming, and Funding Big Tops in Europe - the guide is out!

Circostrada is very proud to present the network's later resource focusing on Touring, Programming, and Funding Big Tops in Europe! This hands-on guide is stemming directly from the first edition of SPARK, a transdisciplinary laboratory organised by Circostrada, in collaboration with Festival Circolo, which took place in 2022 in Tilburg, in the Netherlands.

Aimed at artists, producers and venues wishing to produce shows in a big top in European countries, you will find inside practical tips and in-depth articles on: 

• administration
• financing
• organising tours in Europe
• technical, logistics and security
• parenting 
• disability
• diversity
• advice from experts for artists and presenting partners

This guide was written by Axel Satgé and Déborah Boëno and illustrated by Vasco Maio.

The guide is available in English and in French.

Have a good reading!

Discover the Spark#1 - The podcast on the future of circus tents!

This podcast is a collection of the thoughts and ideas that came up during he first edition of Spark. An event that took place on April 28th to 29th 2022 in Tilburg (The Netherlands), co-organised with Festival Circolo. It was an event for discussing and imagining the future of big tops and exploring new possibilities for the mobility of circus tents and big tops,

Spark brought together a small group of participants combining Circostrada members, artists architects and designers that exchanged best practices, experiences and brainstorm collectively to come up with a list of recommendations to circulate within the field at local, national, and European levels.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE 

DISCOVER THE CS LAB#4 PUBLICATION

This publication follows the 4th edition of the CS LAB, co-organised by Circostrada with Re Riga! and Rigas cirks from July 2 to 4, 2019, on the theme "Circus Commons", or how circus and the values it conveys and promotes can feed our professional practices. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Diary of a CS LAB experience 
• The Sphere
• Becoming multiple: the concept of the unit of embodying
• Changing the world: workshopping the third thing 

BRACE YOURSELVES FOR THE FRESH CIRCUS#4 PUBLICATION!

Following the fourth edition of FRESH CIRCUS – International Seminar for the Development of Circus Arts – organised for the first time in Brussels from 13 to 15 March 2018 by Circostrada/ARTCENA, in partnership with Espace Catastrophe and Wallonie Bruxelles Théâtre Danse, in the frame of Festival UP!, we are happy to communicate this report, which provides a comprehensive overview of this exciting and fruitful experience, designed around the strapline "More than Circus!".

This publication will give you an overview of the stakes the contemporary circus sector is facing, from an international perspective and focusing on the three following sub-themes: Innovation, Artistic paths and creation processes, Images and audiences. It includes a mix of in-depth articles and interviews with artists and key players from the field. 

This publication follows the third KAWHA meeting, which took place in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) from March 6 to 9 2020, in the frame of the third edition of the RICA – Intercultural Circus encounters – and the MASA – Abidjan Performing Arts Market. The meeting was organised by Circostrada, in partnership with La Fabrique Culturelle and the French Institute from Ivory Coast and gathered many African and European circus professionals, including a delegation of Circostrada members. 

During these few days, participants could take part in a rich programme featuring among other things: sharing and brainstorming sessions, interactive workshops, professional meetings, artistic programming, roundtables, visits of local cultural venues, which enabled them to get a real picture of the circus ecosystem in Ivory Coast and Africa in general.

This publication provides the context, knowledge, meetings and the experience gained through this Ivorian interlude.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

•  Abidjan, the rallying force of circus
• The stakes and realities of circus arts in Ivory Coas and Africa
• Three African circus players team up on a co-production project
• Overview of the companies who performed at the RICA 2020
• Professional corner: overview of the field's players
• Next meetings
• Resources

You were waiting for it… The FRESH CIRCUS#5 publication is now out!

While creations and artistic projects anchored in their territory are more than ever relevant considering the current sanitary context, this publication comes along just at the right time!

This publication gathers some reflections and insights that emerged during the 5th edition of the International Seminar International Seminar for the Development of Circus Arts, co-organised with CIRCa - National Pole for Circus. This 2019’s edition took place in Auch (France), in the course of the 32th edition of the contemporary circus festival.

Entitled "Circus is everywhere!" FRESH CIRCUS#5 explored the relation between circus and territories, with an emphasis on rurality. In this publication a wide range of circus professionals coming from all over the world share their thoughts on this issue, questioning the contexts of each project, its  singularities and its territories, confronting knowledge and experiences.

Picture: Fragan Gehlker © Patrick Barbier

This second edition follows the steps of the 2016 “European Funded Projects” guide and maintains the same main three purposes: to identify projects and networks currently active in the circus and street arts sectors, to promote available opportunities for artists and cultural professionals, and to highlight inspiring community-related grants.

During the past three years, we have witnessed many artists, companies, collectives, cultural professionals and organisations making good use of this publication, and we have also been pleasantly surprised to see that policy makers and funders at multiple levels of competencies (European, national, regional and local) started using it too, so as to better understand the trends and evolutions of these sectors, both in terms of aesthetics, formats, and contents.