Call for Projects to support Emerging Circus Authors

Its primary goal is to care for and encourage the development of new generations of innovative creative spirits in the circus sector, who dare to experiment and question the current artistic boundaries. This open call is intended for emerging artists who are currently developing their upcoming circus creation.

Benefits

• Financial support
• Creation & touring support
• Labs & trainings
• Communication support
• European network

Funding Information

• €3,000 for each of the Finalist projects.
• €5,000 for each of the Laureate projects.

Eligible Projects

• There is no restriction regarding the type of project submitted:
  • All forms,
  • Formats,
  • Durations,
  • Aesthetics,
  • Universes,
  • Themes,
  • Audiences,
  • Circus disciplines,
  • Interdisciplinary endeavours (which must include circus) are accepted except acts.

Eligibility Criteria

• Emerging circus author, no age limit
• Creation in progress, no premiere before September 2026
• With a 1st or 2nd creation in France, Belgium, the Netherlands
• With a 1st, 2nd or 3rd creation in other Creative Europe countries

Evaluation Criteria

• The total number of previous creations as an author: artists applying from France, Belgium or the Netherlands are eligible with their 1st or 2nd creation maximum. Artists applying from all other countries are eligible with their 3rd creation maximum.
• The visibility of previous creations as author: if they have toured a previous creation significantly at European and/or international level.
• The financial support of previous creations: if the previous creations as author·s have received important creation subsidy from a public organism.
• These criteria only apply to the artists who are the authors of the submitted project; it does not apply to the performers.

Selection Criteria

• Originality of the project
  • A new approach to circus techniques, a peculiar research process, the construction of a unique artistic universe. Bold? Groundbreaking? Is there artistic risk-taking?
• Authorship
  • Being able to advocate for one’s work and artistic choices, the ability to position oneself and one’s work in the field of circus art, the need to create, etc.
• Coherence and relevance
  • Between one’s artistic intentions and the way the project is structured, thought, how the elements that compose it are arranged, etc.
• Quality of the performance
  • Quality of movement, rhythm, stage presence, i.e. the ability to make the intentions of the proposal tangible on stage, etc.

Application Requirements

• The general information on the project and its author(s)
• Additional documents to upload directly on JotForm, in PDF format:
  • Project presentation
  • Link to a 10-minute video
  • Artistic dossier or creation material
  • Provisional creation calendar
  • Provisional tech rider (optional)
  • CV of the author(s) (optional)

For more information, visit circusnext.