FEDEC - International network for professional circus education

What FEDEC - International network for professional circus education does

FEDEC (Fédération Européenne des Ecoles de Cirque professionnelles) is a Brussels-headquartered, non-profit international network for professional circus education, established in 1998 and operating with a seven-person staff. Its core function is to serve as the convening body for 91 member organizations across 35+ countries, encompassing secondary, vocational, preparatory, and higher education circus schools, as well as national associations, festivals, and circus hubs. The network's value delivery is centered on knowledge exchange, sector-wide standards development, and the production of shared resources including the SPEAK OUT Toolbox, the FED-Talks video tutorial series on rigging, a digital library, an auditions calendar, and a graduation performance calendar.

FEDEC's product surface is organized around EU-funded collaborative projects (RIGGERS 2022-2024, SPEAK OUT 2023-2025, Take Care 2024-2027, En Corps et Toujours 2025-2027, COSMIC 2020-2022, CIRC'EYE 2014-2021) and recurring annual events (CIRCLE, TRACES, Spring Talks, The Circa Experience). Underlying infrastructure includes a Slack-based virtual community for the rigging and safety sector that transitioned from a project deliverable into a persistent open forum after RIGGERS concluded. The organization does not sell a software product; its outputs are reports, training toolboxes, seminars, and curated resources.

The business model is a hybrid of annual membership dues from member institutions (specific pricing not publicly disclosed) and project-based co-funding from European Union programmes including Erasmus+ and the DAPHNE programme of DG Justice. Distribution is direct-to-member through the website portal, Slack platform, email communications, and in-person events. All strategic activity is governed by a Steering Committee structure as evidenced by the RIGGERS project governance.

Name

FEDEC - International network for professional circus education

Legal name

FEDEC - Fédération Européenne des Ecoles de Cirque professionnelles

Website

https://fedec.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FEDEC is a Brussels-based non-profit international network supporting professional circus education through 91 member institutions across 35+ countries, funded by membership fees and EU grants (Erasmus+, DAPHNE) to deliver training projects, knowledge-exchange events, and sector resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Arts Education Network

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

International Sport Federations (IFs) (MPAKAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Professional circus education
• Circus arts training
• Education network federation
• EU project coordination
• Circus safety standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: FEDEC operates as a membership-based organization. Members include secondary, vocational, preparatory, and higher education circus schools, as well as national associations, festivals, and circus hubs.
2. European Union project funding: FEDEC receives co-funding from the European Union, including Erasmus+ programme and DAPHNE programme of DG Justice, to implement various EU projects such as RIGGERS, SPEAK OUT, Take Care, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FEDEC is a non-profit international federation that operates as a membership-based network for professional circus education, connecting 91 member organizations (circus schools, national associations, festivals, and circus hubs) across 35+ countries. It delivers value through EU-funded collaborative projects addressing safety, gender equality, and mental health; annual events and conferences; and digital resources such as the library, auditions calendar, graduation calendar, and toolboxes. The organization is supported by European Union co-funding through Erasmus+ and DAPHNE programmes.

Product overview

FEDEC is the International network for professional circus education, supporting the development and evolution of training, teaching and learning in circus arts. The organization serves as a network of 91 members across 35+ countries, including circus schools, national associations, festivals, and circus hubs. FEDEC's offerings consist primarily of EU-funded collaborative projects (Take Care, SPEAK OUT, RIGGERS, COSMIC, CIRC'EYE), annual events (CIRCLE, TRACES, Spring Talks, The Circa Experience), and resources (Library, Auditions Calendar, Toolbox, Activity Reports). The network does not offer a software product but rather serves as a coordination and knowledge-sharing hub for the circus education sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership programme for professional circus education Annual membership programme for circus schools and circus-related organizations, providing access to international community, EU projects, resources, networking opportunities, and collaborative initiatives.
• Take Care (EU project) EU-funded project (2024-2027) focused on promoting mental health and well-being in the circus arts sector, with objectives to raise awareness, provide training, and facilitate the exchange of best practices to support emerging artists.
• SPEAK OUT (EU project) EU-funded project (2023-2025) focused on preventing sexism and gender-based discrimination in circus arts, including training sessions on gender equality, body & nudity in arts, and recruitment & auditions, and producing a comprehensive toolbox of resources.
• RIGGERS (EU project) EU-funded international project (2022-2024) aimed at improving safety measures and creating an international community for exchanging rigging skills, advice, and know-how among circus school riggers, including seminars, Swapping Experience, Visiting Experience, and FED-Talks video tutorials.
• En Corps et Toujours (EU project) EU project (2025-2027) focused on circus arts education.
• CIRCLE (Annual event) Annual international event bringing together circus education stakeholders for networking, discussions, and showcases.
• TRACES (Annual event) Annual event showcasing circus talent in video format for the circus education community and member organizations.
• Spring Talks (Annual event) Annual spring event featuring talks and discussions on circus education topics, including topics like professional integration and pathways in circus education.
• The Circa Experience (Annual event) Annual FEDEC network encounter held at the Circa festival, providing in-person networking opportunities for member organizations.
• Auditions Calendar Curated calendar that gathers admission information for international circus training programs, including application opening/closing dates and actual audition dates for the academic year 2026-2027.
• Graduation in Motion Annual calendar of circus graduates' performances showcasing upcoming talent from member schools to festivals, programmers, and the wider circus community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91 members across 35+ countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Stockholm University of the Arts (SKH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022SKH served as the lead partner in the RIGGERS project (2022-2024), working with FEDEC to address the needs of riggers in professional circus schools. The partnership aimed to improve safety measures quality and create an international community for exchanging skills, advice, and know-how.
• JUMP, Solutions for Equity at WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPEAK OUT is organized in partnership with JUMP, which provided trainers for the gender equality, body & nudity, and recruitment & auditions training sessions. JUMP specializes in workplace equity solutions.
• Engagement ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for SPEAK OUT Training 2 (Body & Nudity in Arts), providing memorable lectures on power relations, consent, and abusive situations in arts education contexts.
• Balance ton CirquemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for SPEAK OUT Training 2, contributing insights on addressing sexism and discrimination in the circus sector.
• ArchaosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided the venue at BIAC (Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque) for SPEAK OUT Training 1 on Gender Equality.
• Théâtre-école Le SamovarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted SPEAK OUT Training 2 on Body & Nudity in Arts in Paris, France, providing the venue for the training session.
• La Central del CircminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate partner of the SPEAK OUT project, hosting Training 3 on Recruitment & Auditions in Barcelona, Spain.
• FiraTàrregaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate partner and festival host during SPEAK OUT Training 3, providing participants opportunity to attend the outdoor arts festival following the training.
• Centro de las Artes del Circo Rogelio RivelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEDEC member hosting venue for SPEAK OUT Training 3 in Barcelona, Spain.
• RIGGERS Partner Circus SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner10 partners including Fontys, AFUK, Codarts, ENC Montreal, ESAC, Ésacto'Lido, Cirko Vertigo, and NCCA participated in the RIGGERS project for sharing best practice in rigging safety across 8 countries.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• European Association of Conservatoires (AEC): AEC is the European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance representing higher music education institutions across Europe. It is directly comparable to FEDEC as a Brussels-based international federation coordinating specialized arts higher education institutions through membership and EU-funded projects.
• Circostrada - European Network for Circus and Street Arts: Circostrada is the European network dedicated to circus and street arts development, supporting creation, production, and dissemination across the sector. It is directly comparable to FEDEC as an international federation operating in the same circus arts niche with member organizations across multiple countries.
• European Dancehouse Network (EDN): EDN is a membership network of European dance houses and performing arts organizations focused on choreography development and audience engagement. It is directly comparable to FEDEC as an EU-funded, membership-based federation for a specific performing-arts education and development discipline.
• ELIA - European League of Institutes of the Arts: ELIA is a membership-based network of European arts higher education institutions representing universities, academies, and schools across creative disciplines. It is directly comparable to FEDEC in operating model (international federation, member institutions, EU project work) but covers broader arts disciplines.
• PEARLE* - Live Performance Europe: PEARLE* is the European federation of live performance employers and organizations representing theatres, opera houses, festivals, and circus venues. It is directly comparable to FEDEC as an international sector federation in the performing arts with Brussels-based EU advocacy and member-driven governance.
• International Theatre Institute (ITI): ITI is a UNESCO-affiliated international performing arts network coordinating theatre education, training, and cultural exchange across member countries. It is directly comparable to FEDEC as an international federation for performing arts education, operating through member institutions in a similar membership/grant-funded model.

Regional players

• European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC): ENCC is a European network of cultural centres promoting cultural cooperation and capacity-building across the continent. It is comparable to FEDEC as an EU-funded membership network in the cultural sector but operates at the cultural-centre rather than specialized circus-education level.

Broad incumbents

• International Federation of Actors (FIA): FIA is the global federation of performers' unions and professional associations representing actors and performers worldwide. It is comparable to FEDEC as an international federation in the performing arts sector with membership-based structure and EU engagement, though focused on labor representation rather than education.
• European Cultural Foundation (ECF): ECF is a pan-European cultural foundation supporting arts, culture, and policy initiatives across the continent. It is comparable to FEDEC as a Brussels-rooted, EU-adjacent cultural network with grantmaking and project activities, but operates at a much broader arts-and-culture remit.

Emerging players

• International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA): ISPA is a global association of performing arts professionals including presenters, managers, and educators. It is comparable to FEDEC as an international membership network in the performing arts with congresses and development programs, though oriented toward industry leadership rather than circus-specific education.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSFlKngz_srmWjK5sFgGW3Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/FEDECpro
• Instagraminstagram.com/fedec_network
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fedecnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 FEDEC - International network for professional circus education