*About*
Every year circusnext organises and coordinates a selection process which aim to identify and support emerging circus authors who wish to develop singular writings in contemporary circus.
Author is understood as authorship, an artist having authority over their work and a process of finding one’s artistic signature, to (re)define one’s artistic position as an author of original circus works.
Emergence is understood as a level of professional recognition and should not be confused with youth: there is no age limit to apply.
Singular writings is understood as taking risk and being bold.
Being part of this program means being supported during their creation process with: lab, creation residencies and work in progress presentations across Europe, follow up of their creation process by circusnext team and the members of the program, opportunities to meet other European artists and professionals. It also increase authors’ visibility and develop their networking and touring opportunities.
This selection is made in the frame of a European program called “circusnext Platform” in collaboration with 24 European partners and an artistic jury, co-financed by Europe Creative.
*Selection criteria*
- Originality of the project: creation of a strong and unique artistic universe, an original research process, a new approach of circus techniques;
- Position as an author: being able to defend one’s work and artistic choices, ability to position oneself and one’s work in the field of circus art;
- Coherence of the project: how is it structured, how the elements that compose it are arranged;
- Quality of the performance: the ability to make the intentions of the proposition tangible on stage.
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)
- Individuals or company (no legal structure required when applying)
- European residents whose production is based in a Creative Europe country (see list below)
- No age limit (min. 18 years old)
- No circus degree is required
- Not be studying in a circus school after June of the year of application
- No previous Laureates or circusnext Finalists/Shortlisted (if they are not pre-selected at the 1st step, they may apply again for the next edition)
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, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Ukraine
*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:
Number:
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.