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The selection

Any emerging artist, whose production is based in Europe, may apply to the circusnext support program with any type of circus creation in progress. All creative contexts, types of forms, formats, duration, aesthetics, subject, target audience, all circus disciplines and all interdisciplinary endeavours between circus and other art forms are admissible (except acts).
 
Projects are mainly discussed according to the following criteria:

  • Originality of the project: it could be a new approach to circus techniques, an original research process, the construction of an unseen artistic universe, etc.

  • Authorship: the ability to defend 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.

N.B: Please note that the definitions of the criteria are not limited to the explanations above which are here only intended for a better understanding.

Eligibility

Who can apply?  

  • Emerging circus authors (see our definition below) as individuals or company
  • European residents whose production is based in a Creative Europe country (see list below)
  • No age limit (min. 18 years old)
  • No circus degree required
  • Not be studying in a circus school after June of the year of application
  • No previous circusnext Shortlisted/Finalists or Laureates (if only pre-selected at the 1st step, you may re-apply)

A legal structure is required when applying and must be based in a Europe Creative country. You may be self-employed; in this case an official registration number is requested.

N.B: artists may only apply as an author with one creation project per edition.

What projects?

  • All circus creations in progress except acts, from any circus discipline(s) are admissible
  • No premiere planned before the circusnext Revelations event in Paris

Which country?

  • The country of application mentioned in the form should be the country where the project’s production is based

Eligible countries    

  • European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland (Republic of), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands
  • Other countries participating in the Creative Europe programme: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine

Calendar requirements

• Applicants should be available to present work-in-progress presentations on stage in Paris: 18 to 24 May 2025: Selection of Laureates/ 12 & 13 June 2025: circusnext Revelations event 

• Not have their premiere before the Revelations event (13 June 2025)

Emergence

circusnext and its partners evaluate the notion of emergence depending on national contexts. It is a question of professional recognition, not of age. The evaluation is based on the artist’s previous professional creations as author.

Artists may apply with:

  • Their 1st or 2nd creation as author in France, Belgium, the Netherlands
  • Their 3rd creation in all other eligible European countries

N.B: self-produced shows do not count.

Visibility: Have the artist’s previous creations (as author/s) toured significantly at a European/international level?

Financial support: Have the artist’s previous creations (as author/s) received important creation subsidy from a public body?

N.B. Emergence criteria apply to all artists considered as authors of the creation project, but it does not apply to performers. Collectives including an author who is non-emerging, are ineligible.