FAQ

The circusnext label is awarded each year to a selection of emerging circus authors whose projects stand out for their distinctive artistic voice, willingness to take artistic risks, and potential to leave a lasting mark on contemporary circus. It is a form of peer recognition — by programmers and established artists from across Europe.

circusnext Platform is a large-scale European programme, co-funded by Creative Europe, bringing together 25 partner venues across 16 countries and supporting around fifty emerging artists each year who are based in the European Union and participating countries. circusnext France is a complementary national programme for artists who have already been identified by the Platform and are based in France, designed to help them deepen and consolidate their professional careers on French territory.

Within circusnext Platform, the support combines creation residencies abroad, direct financial support, artistic labs, online training, communication support, and touring opportunities at European Platform member venues. The level of support varies depending on whether you are a Finalist or a Laureate. Within circusnext France, support is tailored to each artist's individual needs.

Yes: within circusnext Platform, a grant of €3,000 is awarded to each Finalist project, and a co-production fee of €5,000 to each Laureate project. In addition, all travel, accommodation and meal costs are covered for activities organised by circusnext. Artists feceive a fee for any performance or activity in front of or with an audience.

Finalists are supported for approximately one year. Laureates benefit from an additional year of support, including the circusnext Revelations in Paris and touring opportunities at Platform member venues across Europe.

Any emerging contemporary circus artist based in a country participating in the Creative Europe programme, with a creation project currently in development. Emergence is assessed according to each artist's national context — it is a question of professional recognition, not age.

All creative contexts and circus disciplines are eligible, with the exception of acts. There is no preferred aesthetic, form, duration or audience — all interdisciplinary work between circus and other art forms is welcome.

A call for projects is launched every year. The process unfolds in three stages: national preselections, European selection of Finalists, and selection of Laureates in the Paris region. Dates for each edition are available on the Calendar page.

Yes, provided you have not previously been selected as a Finalist or Laureate. Artists who were preselected may apply again the following year.

The circusnext label identifies a project selected by a European jury of programmers and artists for the distinctiveness of its artistic writing and its potential to leave a lasting mark on contemporary circus. Over more than twenty years, it has consistently spotted early the artists who have since shaped the field.

circusnext is a Paris-based association whose mission is to identify and support emerging contemporary circus authors across Europe.

To fulfil this mission, the association coordinates its main support programme: circusnext Platform, co-funded by the European Union, bringing together 25 partner venues across 16 countries and supporting around fifty emerging artists each year.

circusnext France is a complementary national programme for artists who have already been identified by the Platform and are based in France, designed to help them deepen and consolidate their careers on French territory.

There are several ways.

On the circusnext website, the Artists page allows you to browse all current and past projects, with filters by country, discipline and edition.

Beyond the website, circusnext organises two major professional events each year: the Selection of Laureates, where the 10 Finalist projects present a work-in-progress to a European panel, and the circusnext Revelations, a public event in Paris where the 4 Laureates present their work to general and professional audiences alike. The Revelations continue with the Revelations on Tour, hosted each year by a Platform member venue in Europe.

Throughout the year, residencies and performances also take place at Platform member venues — see the calendar on the website.

Each artist's contact details are available on their profile page on the website. You are also welcome to contact the circusnext team, who can help facilitate introductions.

There are two types of partnership with circusnext.

circusnext Platform members are creation and touring venues, festivals and European networks that commit to taking part in the annual selection process and supporting identified artists — through residencies, touring, artistic labs, and audience encounters. Depending on how the consortium evolves, circusnext may invite new venues to join the Platform.

Partner venues in France work alongside circusnext to co-build the activities organised by the association under circusnext France across French territory, and under circusnext Platform in the Île-de-France region — residencies, touring, training, and artistic labs.

In both cases, please get in touch with the circusnext team to find out more about the terms and commitments involved in each type of partnership.