• 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 1^st or 2^nd creation as author in France, Belgium, the Netherlands
• Their 3^rd 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.