TOHU

What TOHU does

TOHU (legally "TOHU, cité des arts du cirque") is a Quebec-incorporated non-profit cultural organization founded in 2004 and headquartered at 2345 rue Jarry Est in Montreal's Saint-Michel district, within the Cité des arts du cirque. It operates North America's first and only 360-degree circular circus performance hall — a 1,200-seat, 40-meter-diameter, 22.45-meter-high LEED Gold Canada certified venue designed specifically for circus arts — together with the adjacent Frédéric-Back Park, an urban environmental rehabilitation project on the former Miron quarry and city landfill site. The organization hosts the annual ten-day MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE festival and curates year-round programming including shows, exhibitions, seasonal public activities, and the TOHU Collection of circus artifacts. It is governed by a board presided by former Quebec Minister of Culture Diane Lemieux, with co-general managers Benoit Mathieu (Administration) and Pascale Bélanger (Programming).

The organization's product surface spans four interconnected lines: (1) ticketed live performance and festival programming in the circular hall; (2) educational and cultural-mediation services for schools and groups; (3) artist residencies, self-training, and professional development for circus professionals; and (4) venue rental, private and corporate event production, on-site F&B (bistro in fall/winter, terrace bahut in summer), and ancillary services such as parking. Underlying infrastructure is physical rather than digital, with PCI DSS-compliant online ticketing via billetterie.tohu.ca as the principal digital touchpoint and standard email-marketing via Cyberimpact. The organization holds sustainability and accessibility credentials including Eco-Responsible Event Gold, RECYC-QUÉBEC Performance+, Kéroul accessibility, and ISO-class LEED Gold certification.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of transactional ticket sales, annual TOHU Card memberships (15% F&B/boutique discount, recurring subscription), private and corporate venue rentals, educational group rates, and — most importantly for financial sustainability — a multi-tier public funding stack spanning federal, provincial, and municipal governments plus three arts councils (CALQ, Canada Council, Conseil des arts de Montréal), supplemented by major private partners including TD Bank, Desjardins, CDPQ, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Cirque du Soleil, and broadcast/media partners La Presse and Télé-Québec. Pricing is primarily transactional per show with subscription memberships and B2B group rates as layered tiers. The GTM motion is direct-to-consumer (box office, website) layered with event-driven demand (annual festival) and partnerships with cultural ministries and corporate sponsors. Headcount is 101-250, consistent with a mid-sized cultural venue operation; revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

TOHU

Legal name

TOHU, cité des arts du cirque

Website

https://tohu.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

TOHU is a Montreal-based non-profit operating North America's only 1,200-seat 360-degree circular circus arts venue, the adjacent Frédéric-Back environmental park, and the annual MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE festival, serving public audiences, schools, corporate renters, and circus professionals through ticketed performances, educational programs, venue rentals, and public-private funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH), Venue Food, Beverage & Hospitality Operations (Concessions, Catering, Premium Seating) (MPAGALAN), Venue Guest Services & Front-of-House Operations (Ushers, Box Office, Accessibility) (MPAGALAK), VIP, Hospitality & Premium Experiences (MPAGAAAK)

Keywords

• Circus arts venue
• Performing arts center
• Cultural event hosting
• Artist residency programs
• Educational cultural services

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to circus shows, performances, and events at the 1200-seat circular venue. Box office operates daily from 9am to 5pm and up to 30 minutes after show start.
2. Membership Program (TOHU Card): Annual membership program offering 15% discount on bistro and boutique purchases, plus other benefits throughout the season.
3. Food and Beverage Services: On-site bistro (fall/winter) and terrace bahut (summer) offering dishes made on site, cocktails, beers, wines. Local products and vegan options prioritized. Members receive 15% discount.
4. Event Rental and Private Events: Venue rental services for private events, corporate events, and productions. Technical support and room rental available through dedicated contacts.
5. Educational Services: Revenue from school programming, guided tours, and cultural mediation services for educational groups and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TOHU operates a 360-degree circular circus arts performance hall in Montreal — the first of its kind in North America — seating up to 1,200 people. The venue hosts circus shows, the annual MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE festival, cultural activities, and educational programming, and generates revenue from ticket sales, venue rentals, on-site dining, artist residencies, and a membership program (TOHU Card).

Product overview

TOHU is a circus arts venue and cultural center offering a unified portfolio of venue-based experiences. At its core is the unique 360-degree circular theater (the first in North America, seating 1200), combined with Frédéric-Back environmental park and the annual MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE festival. Supporting these main offerings are educational services (school programming, guided tours, cultural mediation), artist residencies, on-site dining (bistro/terrace), event production/rental services, and a membership program (TOHU Card).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE: Annual festival organized by TOHU featuring circus arts programming for ten days.

Products and services

• MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE Festival An annual ten-day circus arts festival held at TOHU showcasing national and international circus performances for general audiences and cultural enthusiasts.
• School Programming Educational circus shows and activities designed for school groups, providing cultural enrichment and circus arts exposure for students.
• Guided Tours Guided tours of the TOHU venue and the Frédéric-Back environmental park, providing cultural and environmental education experiences to visitors.
• Cultural Mediation Cultural mediation services that help visitors engage with and understand circus arts, performances, and environmental themes.
• Bistro and Terrace (Bahut) On-site bistro (fall/winter) and terrace bar (summer) serving locally sourced dishes, vegan options, cocktails, beers, and wines to venue visitors.
• TOHU Card (Membership) Annual membership program providing benefits such as a 15% discount at the bistro and boutique, plus exclusive season-long perks for cultural venue visitors.
• Artist Residencies Residency programs allowing circus artists and performing arts professionals to develop, rehearse, and create new works using TOHU's facilities.
• Event Production Services Venue rental and event production services for hosting private events, corporate functions, and external productions at TOHU's facilities.
• Frédéric-Back Park Environmental rehabilitation park created on the former Miron quarry and city landfill site, offering seasonal activities, biodiversity experiences, and community events.
• TOHU Collection The institution's permanent collection of circus-related artifacts and materials, presented as part of TOHU's cultural offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1200-person capacity venue hosting major international circus productions
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and minor.

• Cirque du SoleilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCirque du Soleil is a major partner of TOHU, providing access to its parking lot for visitors and maintaining a close operational relationship within the Cité des arts du cirque ecosystem.
• Gouvernement du QuébeccoreOthersGovernment of Quebec provides public funding support to TOHU as a cultural institution in Montreal.
• Ville de MontréalcoreOthersCity of Montreal provides public funding and supports free programming at TOHU.
• Gouvernement du CanadacoreOthersGovernment of Canada provides federal cultural funding support to TOHU.
• Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)coreOthersCALQ provides provincial arts council funding for circus programming.
• Conseil des arts du CanadacoreOthersCanada Council for the Arts provides federal arts council funding.
• Conseil des arts de MontréalcoreOthersMontreal Arts Council provides municipal arts council funding.
• TD Bank (Banque TD)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerTD Bank is a privileged partner providing financial support and potentially marketing collaboration.
• Desjardins (Caisse de l'Est de Montréal)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerDesjardins is a privileged partner from the East End Montreal credit union.
• Keurig Dr PeppersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerKeurig Dr Pepper is a privileged partner providing beverage services.
• BCF Avocats d'affairessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBCF is a privileged partner providing legal services.
• BenevasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBeneva is a privileged partner in the insurance sector.
• UQAMsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversité du Québec à Montréal is a privileged partner providing academic collaboration.
• La PressesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLa Presse is a media partner providing press coverage and promotional support.
• Télé-QuébecsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTélé-Québec is a media partner providing broadcast and promotional support.
• Distillerie des 3 LacsminorOthersOfficial supplier of spirits for TOHU's food and beverage services.
• Brasserie BoldwinminorOthersOfficial beer supplier for TOHU's bistro and events.
• Boisson ChouchouminorOthersOfficial beverage supplier for TOHU.
• Hôtel Zero 1minorOthersOfficial hotel partner for visitor accommodations.
• Du vert au rougeminorOthersOfficial supplier for TOHU.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cavalia: Montreal-based producer of large-format theatrical shows (originally equestrian). Operates in the same premium live-entertainment category with similar talent logistics, ticketing, and venue-rental economics.
• École nationale de cirque (National Circus School): Montreal's premier circus training institution, co-located in the Cité des arts du cirque. It directly feeds artist development and residency pipelines that TOHU programs depend on, making it a structural ecosystem peer.
• Big Apple Circus: A New York-based traditional circus company that produces ticketed circus shows and community programming. Comparable as another nonprofit-adjacent circus operator targeting family and cultural audiences.
• Cirque du Soleil: Headquartered in Montreal and the global leader in contemporary circus, Cirque du Soleil shares the same talent pool, audience, and Cité des arts du cirque ecosystem as TOHU. It is also a board-level strategic partner, making it the closest industry peer.
• Cirque Éloize: Montreal-headquartered contemporary circus troupe that produces and tours its own shows. Comparability stems from shared city base, similar artist pipeline, and overlapping ticketed circus programming.
• Les 7 doigts (The 7 Fingers): A Montreal-based contemporary circus company that creates, produces, and tours shows—directly comparable as a creator/producer competing for the same audiences, artists, and presenters as TOHU's programming.

Broad incumbents

• Olympia (Paris): Historic Parisian live-performance venue hosting international touring productions including circus and variety shows. Comparable as an established performing-arts venue with mixed ticketed shows, rentals, and F&B operations.
• Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity: A Canadian arts institution offering artist residencies, performances, and conferences. Comparable to TOHU's combined venue-plus-residency-plus-educational model serving circus and performing-arts professionals.
• Royal Albert Hall: Iconic London performing-arts venue with diverse live programming, premium hospitality, and education programs. Comparable as a large-capacity, heritage cultural venue blending ticketed shows, rentals, and learning.
• Kennedy Center: Major U.S. performing-arts center combining ticketed programming, education, and venue rental. Comparable to TOHU across its multi-revenue cultural-venue model and public-private funding mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LaTOHU
• Facebookfacebook.com/LaTOHU

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TOHU