What Circus Kumarani does

Circus Kumarani is a community-based circus arts organization operating in the Northland region of New Zealand. Incorporated as the Kumarani Productions Trust, a registered New Zealand charitable trust, the organization was founded in 2003 by Thomas Hinz and Frances Kelliher in Dargaville and has since become one of the longest-running community circus communities in the country. It is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees and operated day-to-day by a small core team of approximately six paid staff (Trust Manager Tracey and Community Coordinator Tania Whetu Bracey-Brown, supported by roughly nine named circus teachers and additional casual contractors).

The organization delivers its services through a portfolio of in-person programs: regular weekly circus skills classes in Dargaville and Whangārei (youth circus, adult aerials, fire jams, specialty workshops); free school holiday programs that rotate through Northland towns; structured school programs including special-education delivery; and the annual Northland Circus Festival. A separate online youth initiative, the Circ.Us Youth Program, extends its reach nationally via monthly Zoom meetings and a Signal chat group. A performance-hire arm supplies aerialists, fire performers, stilt walkers, and interactive circus zones to corporate, community, and private events on a sliding cost scale.

Circus Kumarani's revenue model is a hybrid charity construct. Class fees and performance-hire income cover part of operating costs, but the bulk of the budget is assembled from tax-deductible donations (including a NZD 200-per-term child sponsorship product and Givealittle campaigns) and grants from a diversified set of public and philanthropic funders, including Kaipara District Council, Whangārei District Council, Far North District Council, Northland Regional Council, Foundation North, the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, the Ministry of Education, Northland Community Foundation, Sport Northland, and the Sky City Auckland Community Trust. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on word-of-mouth, school outreach, the annual festival, and free holiday programs as the primary acquisition channels. There is no proprietary technology platform, app, or AI component; the core technology is the in-person delivery of circus arts instruction using traditional props and equipment.

Name

Circus Kumarani

Legal name

Kumarani Productions Trust

Website

https://circuskumarani.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Circus Kumarani is a Dargaville-based New Zealand charitable trust that delivers community circus arts education, holiday programs, school workshops, and performance hire across the Northland region, serving all ages and abilities including people with disabilities and the rainbow community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts and Circus Education

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Amusement and Theme Parks (713110), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (713990), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH), Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH)

Keywords

• Community circus programs
• Circus arts education
• Performance hire services
• School holiday programs
• Inclusive circus workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Dargaville

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: One-off and recurring donations from individuals and organizations. As a registered charity, donations over $5 are tax deductible. Givealittle campaigns and direct bank deposits. Sponsorship of children for circus classes ($200 per term).
2. Performance Hire Services: Corporate, community, and private event performances and workshops. Sliding cost scale allows accessibility while valuing performer skills. Services include aerial entertainers, fire performances, circus workshops, roving characters, stilt walkers, and birthday parties.
3. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from Kaipara District Council, Whangārei District Council, Far North District Council, Northland Regional Council, Foundation North, New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, Ministry of Education, Northland Community Foundation, Sport Northland, and various other grant-making bodies.
4. Circus Classes: Low-cost circus skills classes across the Northland Region. Classes offered in Dargaville and Whangarei for youth and adults. Prices tailored for accessibility while covering operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Circus Kumarani delivers community circus arts education, performances, and events for all ages and abilities in Northland, New Zealand. Core offerings include weekly youth and adult classes in Dargaville and Whangārei, free school holiday programs across Northland towns, in-school circus workshops, professional circus performance hire for corporate and private events, and the annual Northland Circus Festival. The organization is operated by Kumarani Productions Trust, a registered charity, and uses a sliding cost scale to keep programs accessible.

Product overview

Circus Kumarani is a community-based circus organization offering a portfolio of circus arts services centered around education, performance, and community engagement. The core offerings include regular circus classes (Youth Circus, Adult Aerials, Fire Jams, Specialty Workshops) taught in Dargaville and Whangārei; Holiday Programs providing free circus instruction during school breaks; Performance Hire for corporate, community, and private events featuring aerial acts, fire performances, and interactive circus zones; the annual Northland Circus Festival; School Programs delivered directly in educational settings; the Circ.Us Youth Program for youth leadership development; and various community events. The organization operates as a registered charity using a sliding cost scale to ensure accessibility for all ages and abilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Northland Circus Festival: An annual festival featuring circus workshops, shows, fire spinning, music, and market stalls held in Northland. The festival is open to all ages and abilities from beginners to advanced level.

Products and services

• Circus Classes
• Holiday Programs
• Performance Hire
• Northland Circus Festival
• School Programs
• Circ.Us Youth Program
• Circus Events and Workshops
• Sponsor a Circus Youth

Quantifiable outcome

• Marked improvements across 7 key areas (coordination, balance, confidence, willingness to try new things, collaboration, perseverance, concentration) after 10 weekly circus sessions in local primary schools

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CircabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2024Auckland-based social circus organization that Circus Kumarani collaborates with. Thomas Hinz and Frances Kelliher (founders) went on to manage Circability. Ongoing partnership includes knowledge sharing, resource collaboration, and joint events like Youth Circus Festival. Circability was co-founded by Circus Kumarani's founding members.
• Community Arts and Circus Trust New Zealand (CACCTNZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational body supporting community circus in Aotearoa. Listed as a community supporter on Circus Kumarani's website.
• Kaipara District CouncilcoreOthersPrimary local government funder through Community Organisation Grants Scheme. Supports Kumarani events and programs in the Kaipara District.
• Whangārei District CouncilcoreOthersLocal government funder through Creative Communities NZ and other funding mechanisms. Supports Whangārei events and programs.
• Sport NorthlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional sports organization supporting physical activity and wellness programs. Collaborates on sports and recreation initiatives.
• Greenways TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService provider for people with disabilities based in Dargaville. Original founding partner in 2003 alongside Kaurilands Skills Centre and Dargaville Little Theatre. Ongoing collaboration on inclusive circus programs.
• Dancing DiamondsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal burlesque performance group co-founded by Jess (Circus Kumarani teacher). Joint fundraising events and show collaborations including Funkyray Cabaret.
• Kaipara Tamariki CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization supporting tamariki (children) in the Kaipara region. Listed as community supporter.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Community Arts and Circus Trust New Zealand (CACCTNZ): National umbrella body for community circus in Aotearoa. Listed as a core community supporter on Circus Kumarani's website and serves as the national coordinating body for the same community circus segment Circus Kumarani operates in.
• Circability: Auckland-based social circus organization co-founded by Circus Kumarani's original founders (Thomas Hinz and Frances Kelliher). Offers adaptive circus programs for people with disabilities, making it the most direct functional peer and ongoing partner of Circus Kumarani.
• Flipside Circus: Brisbane-based youth circus organization offering classes, performances, and social circus programs. Closely comparable community circus business model with similar youth-development, social-inclusion, and performance hire offerings to Circus Kumarani.
• National Circus (UK): UK-based social circus charity offering classes and performances for disadvantaged youth and people with disabilities. Similar charitable community circus model serving marginalized groups, with comparable class and performance offerings.
• Capital Circus Trust (Wellington): Wellington-based community circus organization offering classes, performances, and youth programs. Closely comparable model to Circus Kumarani in a different New Zealand region, serving similar age and ability segments.
• Dunedin Circus School: Community circus school in Dunedin offering classes and performances for all ages. Operates the same community circus business model in a different New Zealand region, directly comparable to Circus Kumarani's offerings.

Peers

• Circus OZ:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circus-kumarani

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Circus Kumarani