What circusnext does

circusnext is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) headquartered in Paris at 15-17 villa Saint-Jacques, with a secondary office at Oasis 21 in the 19th arrondissement. Operated by a team of approximately 8 employees, the organization functions as a pan-European support platform and competition ecosystem exclusively dedicated to identifying and developing emerging contemporary circus artists, typically those within 3–7 years of graduating from circus school.

The platform operates a structured, multi-stage annual selection process: national preselections in 10–11 European countries review 115–141 applications per cycle, from which approximately 12 Finalists are selected to participate in European Labs (laboratory workshops), receive dramaturgical mentorship, and access international residencies and co-production commitments from member organizations. From the Finalist cohort, 4 Laureate projects are designated each year and receive financial support, SACD sponsorship, and touring facilitation across the network. The annual showcase, Révélations circusnext, takes place at the Théâtre de la Cité internationale in Paris, where Finalists present 20-minute work-in-progress pieces. Logical components of the platform include the European Labs (laboratory workshops), Formations (training programs), Résidences (residencies), and the public Révélations showcases, delivered through a network of approximately 25 platform member venues and festivals across 17 European countries (including Tollhaus Karlsruhe, La Central del Circ Barcelona, Cirkus Mania Stockholm, Cirko Helsinki, Mercat de les Flors, La Grainerie, and Cirkobalkana).

circusnext operates as a not-for-profit and does not generate commercial revenue. The organization is funded through multi-year institutional subsidy agreements and project-based co-production financing from the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, the French Ministry of Culture, the Ville de Paris, the Région Île-de-France, SACD, and the Institut Français. Artists participate free of charge and receive financial support, residencies, laboratories, and performance opportunities without cost. The organization's intellectual property is protected by INPI trademark registrations (numbers 4413452 and 4413459), and it holds French entertainment entrepreneur licenses (2-1109107 and 3-1109108). Marketing and outreach are conducted through a bilingual French/English website, email newsletter, YouTube, and an editorial partnership with Around About Circus.

Name

circusnext

Legal name

circusnext

Website

https://circusnext.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

circusnext is a Paris-based French non-profit association operating a pan-European platform that identifies and supports emerging contemporary circus artists through annual national preselections, European Labs, residencies, and a public Laureate showcase across 25 partner venues in 17 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Artist Development

NAICS

Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

Keywords

• Contemporary circus support
• Artist residency programs
• Performing arts development
• European circus selection
• Arts incubation platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Subsidies and Grants: circusnext is funded by public cultural institutions including the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, the French Ministry of Culture, the Ville de Paris, the Région Île-de-France, SACD, and the Institut Français. As an association loi 1901, the organization does not generate commercial revenue but operates through multi-year subsidy agreements and project-based co-production financing.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

circusnext is a pan-European artist support platform and competition ecosystem for contemporary circus that operates a structured multi-stage annual selection process (national preselections, European finalist selection, final Laureate designation) for emerging circus artists. Selected artists receive free access to European Labs (dramaturgical workshops), professional Formations (training), Résidences (creative residencies at member venues), co-production commitments, financial support, and public performance opportunities through Révélations showcases at the Théâtre de la Cité internationale in Paris.

Product overview

circusnext is a European circus label operating as a pan-European support platform for emerging contemporary circus artists. The core offering is the circusnext Platform, which provides a structured selection process culminating in Laureate designation, combined with ongoing artistic development through European Labs (laboratory workshops), Formations (training), Résidences (residencies), and public presentations called Révélations. Artists progress through stages including national preselection, European finalist selection, Laureate designation, and final revelation performances. The platform connects artists with 25 member organizations across 17 European countries for coproduction, labs, residences, and training opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• circusnext Platform The circusnext Platform provides a structured multi-stage selection process for emerging contemporary circus artists across Europe, culminating in Laureate designation, combined with ongoing artistic development through European Labs, Formations, Résidences, and Révélations public presentations. Artists progress through national preselection, European finalist selection, Laureate designation, and final revelation performances. The platform connects artists with 25 member organizations across 17 European countries for co-production, labs, residences, and training opportunities.
• European Labs Laboratory workshops for selected circusnext artists to develop their circus projects with artistic and dramaturgical support, held across European partner venues as part of the structured artist development program.
• Formations Professional training programs for circus artists, including workshops, masterclasses, and artistic development sessions offered as part of the circusnext artist support framework.
• Sélection des Lauréat·es Annual competition program selecting the most promising emerging circus projects, culminating in Laureate designation and ongoing artistic support including financial backing, co-productions, and touring facilitation.
• Révélations Public showcase events where circusnext Laureates present 20-minute works-in-progress of their creations at the Théâtre de la Cité internationale in Paris, providing audience visibility and industry exposure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 Laureate projects selected per annual edition, each receiving financial support, co-productions, and international touring facilitation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cirkorama (Zagreb, Croatia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the 2027 European Finalist selection jury meetings (3–5 June 2026). One of approximately 25 circusnext platform member organizations providing venues, residencies, and co-production support across Europe.
• circusnext Platform Members (approx. 25 European venues and festivals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe circusnext platform comprises approximately 25 European member venues and cultural organizations (including Tollhaus Karlsruhe, La Central del Circ Barcelona, Cirkus Mania Stockholm, Cirko Helsinki, and others) that participate in national preselections, host laboratories and residencies, provide co-production commitments, and facilitate touring for selected artists.
• Théâtre de la Cité internationale (Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary Parisian venue partner hosting the annual Sélection des Lauréat·es (final selection jury deliberations and public reveals) and the Révélations circusnext showcase events. Located in Paris, France.
• Around About CircusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEditorial partnership for exclusive artist interview series published on the circusnext website. Around About Circus produces in-depth interviews with Laureate artists, providing content marketing and earned media visibility for circusnext and its supported artists.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Circuscentrum: Belgian non-profit talent support organization for contemporary circus, with a similar mission of identifying, developing, and providing production support to emerging circus artists. Most directly comparable peer to circusnext at a national level.
• ARTCENA: French national resource center for circus, puppetry, and street arts that supports emerging and established artists through documentation, consulting, and production support. Closely comparable mission and French institutional backing.
• Aerowaves: Pan-European dance network running a comparable annual selection process (Spring Forward) that identifies ~20 emerging choreographers across 30+ countries and connects them to presenting venues. Same business model as circusnext but for dance — useful benchmark for the circusnext model.
• La Central del Circ: Catalan/British circus creation center in Barcelona providing residencies, production support, and showcasing for emerging circus artists. Operates a similar artist-development model and is itself a circusnext platform member.

Broad incumbents

• European Dancehouse Network (EDN): Pan-European network of dance houses and presenting venues that facilitates artist touring, co-productions, and knowledge exchange. Larger and broader in scope than circusnext but operates a structurally analogous venue-network model.
• IETM: International network for contemporary performing arts encompassing circus, dance, and theater across Europe. Larger, broader, and more lobbying-focused than circusnext but serves overlapping institutional stakeholders.

Others

• Fédération Française des Cirques et des Arts de la Rue: French federation representing circus and street arts professionals, with a more advocacy- and federation-oriented mandate than circusnext's selection/development model. Adjacent rather than directly competing.
• La Grainerie: French circus creation center in Balma (Toulouse) that hosts residencies, co-productions, and artist support. Functions as both a circusnext platform member and a parallel artist-support venue — useful as an adjacent operator rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/circusnext
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circusnext
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcircusnext
• Facebookfacebook.com/circusnext
• Instagraminstagram.com/circusnext_eu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 circusnext