Fondazione Cirko Vertigo

What Fondazione Cirko Vertigo does

Fondazione Cirko Vertigo is a nonprofit social enterprise (Impresa Sociale) headquartered in Grugliasco, in the metropolitan area of Turin, Italy, operating as Italy's first and only institution offering a university-equivalent degree in contemporary circus arts. Founded in 2016 as the successor to Associazione Qanat Arte e Spettacolo (established 1999), the foundation runs a portfolio of educational programs anchored by a three-year Laurea Triennale per Artista di Circo Contemporaneo (DAMS L-03 equipollente, recognized via MUR Decree 2022), a two-year professional training course (2,400 hours, co-funded by FSE+), a 600-hour specialization for circus arts teachers, and continuous-education masterclasses. It serves aspiring professional circus artists, prospective instructors, and continuing-education participants, with rigorous audition-based enrollment capped at 20 students per year for the degree program.

The foundation's operational footprint spans multiple campuses and venues across Piedmont — Grugliasco (Parco Culturale Le Serre, three training halls, Chapiteau Vertigo), Mondovì (current multi-purpose hall, new headquarters planned at former Caserma Galliano for April 2027), Turin (Café Müller theater, 140 seats), Settimo Torinese, Moncalieri, Chieri, and Vicoforte — plus a European mobility dimension through the Erasmus+ UNICA project. Its business model is a hybrid of public and private funding: grants from MIC, Regione Piemonte, FSE+, PNRR, and the European Commission are complemented by contributions from Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CRT, and Fondazione CRC, with additional revenue from tuition (e.g., €2,000 teacher training course), performance ticket sales via the NICE Festival and annual student productions, and venue rentals. The foundation is closely integrated with Centro Nazionale di Produzione blucinQue Nice, providing a direct pathway from training to professional placement.

Strategically, the foundation is building a vertically integrated contemporary circus ecosystem — from training through artistic residencies (Casa del Circo Contemporaneo, with selected company counts of 7–21 annually from 2021–2025) to production and performance. Recent moves include the October 2025 appointment of Jérôme Thomas as Artistic Director, the donation of Cirque Lili, the 2025 GreenkedIn digital platform (PNRR-funded), and the planned 2027-2028 launch of Italy's first Master's in Management of Live Performance and Contemporary Circus (LM-65).

Name

Fondazione Cirko Vertigo

Legal name

Fondazione Cirko Vertigo Impresa Sociale – Culturale e Creativa

Website

https://cirkovertigo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fondazione Cirko Vertigo is an Italian nonprofit social enterprise based in Grugliasco (Turin) that operates Italy's first and only university-equivalent degree in contemporary circus, serving aspiring professional circus artists, instructors, and arts organizations through training, artistic residencies, and performance production across multiple Piedmont venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN)

Keywords

• Contemporary circus education
• Circus arts training
• Performing arts academy
• Artistic residencies
• Circus university degree

Headquarters

HQ city

Grugliasco

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Course Fees: Revenue from educational programs including the professional training course (biennial, 2400 hours) and specialized teacher training courses. The professional course is co-funded by the European Social Fund (FSE+)
2. Public Funding and Grants: Sustained by MIC (Ministero della Cultura), Regione Piemonte, and municipal governments (Città di Grugliasco, Città di Mondovì, Città di Torino), plus foundation support from Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CRT, Fondazione CRC
3. Erasmus+ Funding: European funding for international mobility and cooperation projects, including 117,512 euro allocated for student, faculty, and professional exchanges
4. Venue Rentals and Event Services: Rental of performance spaces including Café Müller theater (up to 140 seats), meeting rooms, and chapiteau structures for corporate events, conferences, team building, and private functions
5. Performance and Festival Revenue: Ticket sales from student productions, the NICE Festival, and other circus events produced by the academy and the blucinQue Nice production center

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fondazione Cirko Vertigo operates an academy for contemporary circus arts, delivering a three-year university-level degree, a two-year professional training course, a teacher specialization course, and continuing education masterclasses. The foundation also runs an artistic residency program (Casa del Circo Contemporaneo), produces annual student performances, and operates the Café Müller theater and Chapiteau venues for shows, venue rentals, and cultural events.

Product overview

Fondazione Cirko Vertigo operates as a unified academy offering a portfolio of interconnected educational and cultural products. The core offering consists of the three-year Laurea Triennale per Artista di Circo Contemporaneo (Italy's first university circus degree) and the two-year professional training course for circus artists. These are supplemented by a professional specialization course for circus teachers, continuous education masterclasses, and the Erasmus+ international exchange program. Beyond formal education, the foundation provides artistic residencies through the Casa del Circo Contemporaneo project and produces annual student performances (Impromptu, Exploit, Exit, Extra-Ordinaire). The Café Müller multipurpose theater serves as the performance venue. A notable digital product is the GreenkedIn platform for cultural industries mapping. A Master's degree in Management of Live Performance and Contemporary Circus is planned for 2027-2028.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NICE Festival: Annual festival organized by Centro di Produzione blucinQue Nice featuring contemporary circus, theater, dance and live music, held in Turin, Grugliasco and Moncalieri areas.
• GreenkedIn
• Hybrid Festival
• Sul Filo del Circo
• UNICA (University of Italy for Circus Artists)

Products and services

• Laurea Triennale per Artista di Circo Contemporaneo Three-year university-level degree program in Contemporary Circus Arts, equivalent to a DAMS (Class L-03) qualification under MUR Decree No. 0001057 of 05/09/2022. First such program in Italy; admits maximum 20 students per year through annual auditions. Designed for aspiring professional circus artists aged 18+.
• Corso di Formazione Professionale per Artista di Circo Contemporaneo Two-year biennial professional training course totaling 2,400 hours (1,200 per year), co-funded by the European Social Fund (FSE+). Graduates receive a Specialization Certificate recognized by Regione Piemonte and the European Union. Designed for students seeking professional circus artist qualification.
• Specializzazione professionale Insegnante di arti circensi 600-hour professional specialization course for circus arts teachers, funded by MIC through FUS. First and only such course in Italy, recognized by Regione Piemonte and inserted in the regional qualification registry. Total cost: 2,000 euro. Designed for graduates and professionals from dance, theater, sports, and movement disciplines seeking qualified teaching credentials.
• Formazione Continua / Masterclass Continuous education programs featuring masterclasses taught by international circus artists. Open to professionals and enthusiasts of various skill levels, providing advanced short-term training in specific circus disciplines.
• Casa del Circo Contemporaneo - Residenze Artistiche Artistic residency project under the national Artistic Residencies system, supported by Regione Piemonte and MIC (FUS). Provides selected young circus companies (under 35 priority) workspace, qualified staff support, and professional facilities to develop creative projects. Annual selections: 7 (2025-2026), 12 (2024), 14 (2023), 21 (2022), 11 (2021).
• Produzioni Annuali (Impromptu, Exploit, Exit, Extra-Ordinaire) Annual student-created productions performed publicly: Impromptu (first-year collective creation), Exploit (second-year solo acts), Exit (third-year solo acts), and Extra-Ordinaire (third-year collective creation directed by international directors). Ticketed public performances serving as both educational milestones and showcase events.
• Teatro Café Müller - Venue and Event Services Multipurpose theater at Via Paolo Sacchi 18, Turin, under artistic direction of Caterina Mochi Sismondi. Capacity: 140 seats (main hall), 40 seats (upper gallery), 180 combined. Available for venue rental for corporate events, conferences, team-building experiences through circus arts, private celebrations, and performances.
• Erasmus+ International Mobility Program (UNICA) International mobility program under UNICA project (University of Italy for Circus Artists) enabling student and staff exchanges with European higher education institutions. Holder of Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) 2021-2027. Awarded 117,512 euros for international mobility of students, faculty, and circus professionals.
• GreenkedIn Platform Digital platform for mapping and developing cultural and creative industries in the live performance and cinema sectors. First Italian digital platform of its kind, conceived and developed by Fondazione Cirko Vertigo, co-financed through PNRR funds (Mission 1, Component 3 - Tourism and Culture 4.0).

Quantifiable outcome

• First 7 graduates in Italian circus arts history - November 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Jérôme ThomascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Internationally renowned circus artist and 'father of contemporary juggling' donating the historic Cirque Lili to Fondazione Cirko Vertigo. From October 2025, serving as Artistic Director of the circus arts degree program for a three-year term, bringing prestigious international expertise to the academy.
• Centro Nazionale di Produzione blucinQue NicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022National production center collaborating with Fondazione Cirko Vertigo on artistic development. The partnership provides a unique pathway from training to professional placement, with the most deserving graduates potentially joining the company or having new works produced. blucinQue Nice operates Café Müller theater and produces the NICE Festival, with artistic direction by Caterina Mochi Sismondi.
• Regione PiemontecoreOthersRegional government providing sustained funding through Casa del Circo Contemporaneo project, part of the national artistic residency system. Multiple multi-year funding agreements supporting educational and residency programs.
• MIC - Ministero della CulturacoreOthersItalian Ministry of Culture supporting the Laurea Triennale program and providing FUS (Fondo Unico per lo Spettacolo) funding for artistic activities.
• Città di GrugliascomajorOthersHost municipality providing the Parco Culturale Le Serre headquarters location since 2007 and ongoing municipal support for circus arts programming.
• Città di MondovìmajorOthersPartner municipality supporting the new Mondovì academic campus, providing venue space at the funicular station, and supporting Chapiteau Nice operations.
• DAMS Torino - Università degli Studi di TorinocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration partner for the circus arts degree program, providing theoretical coursework and academic integration for students.
• FEDEC (Fédération Européenne des Écoles de Cirque professionnelles)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Federation of Professional Circus Schools providing network connections, accreditation standards, and professional development opportunities for graduates. FEDEC diploma holders receive priority in residency selections.
• Erasmus+ Programme (EU)coreOthersEuropean funding program providing 117,512 euro for international mobility. UNICA project (UNiversity of Italy for Circus Artists) received Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) 2021-2027 enabling student and staff exchanges with European partners.
• Città di TorinomajorOthersMunicipal partner collaborating on the circus arts degree program and hosting performances at Café Müller and other city venues for the NICE Festival.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• \u00c9cole Sup\u00e9rieure des Arts du Cirque (ESAC): Belgian higher-education circus school (Brussels) offering a bachelor's degree co-delivered with university partners. Closely comparable in scale, regulatory framework (Belgian\u2013Flemish), and curriculum integration of circus with dance, theater and academic subjects.
• \u00c9cole Nationale de Cirque (ENC): Canadian national circus school in Montreal, the pioneering higher-education circus program. Comparable as the gold-standard peer referenced in Cirko Vertigo's own positioning and the source of much of the European school's pedagogical lineage.
• Centre National des Arts du Cirque (CNAC): French national higher-education circus school in Ch\u00e2lons-en-Champagne, delivering the Dipl\u00f4me National Sup\u00e9rieur Professionnel. Directly comparable as a publicly funded, multi-year national-level training program for contemporary circus artists.
• Caracola Teatre i Circ: Barcelona-based school and creation center for contemporary circus. Comparable as a European school combining professional training with artistic creation/residency work, similar in mission mix to Cirko Vertigo's academy + Casa del Circo Contemporaneo.
• Codarts Rotterdam \u2013 Circus Arts: Dutch university of professional arts offering a BA in Circus Arts. Comparable because both institutions deliver a bachelor-level accredited circus program integrated with performing arts and academic study, positioning graduates for European companies.
• National Centre for Circus Arts (NCCA): UK's national centre for circus arts, delivering vocational and degree-level training alongside creation/production. Directly comparable to Cirko Vertigo as a full-time professional circus school with government recognition and international student intake.
• Stockholm University of the Arts (SKH) \u2013 Circus: Swedish university that hosts one of the few bachelor programs in contemporary circus in northern Europe. Comparable as a publicly funded university-integrated circus degree, part of the limited peer set of FEDEC-accredited national programs.
• FLIC Scuola di Circo: Turin-based Italian contemporary circus school, an Italian national peer focused on training emerging circus performers. Comparable as a fellow domestic Italian circus school with overlapping geographic catchment in Piedmont.

Broad incumbents

• Cirque du Soleil: Global entertainment incumbent producing large-scale contemporary circus shows. Comparable as the dominant end-market employer of Cirko Vertigo graduates and as a benchmark for the contemporary circus category the company operates in.

Others

• Centro Nazionale di Produzione blucinQue Nice: Italian national contemporary circus production center and Cirko Vertigo's closely integrated operational partner, sharing Caf\u00e9 M\u00f9ller venue and leadership. Useful peer for the production/residency arm and for benchmarking the integrated training-to-company pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cirkovertigo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/kinemaspettacolo
• Facebookfacebook.com/CirkoVertigo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondazione-cirko-vertigo/mycompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/cirkovertigo

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 Fondazione Cirko Vertigo