La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie
La Brèche is a publicly funded French National Circus Pole in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin that supports contemporary circus creation through ~20 artist residencies per season, free public presentations, and regional festivals, serving professional circus artists, local audiences, schools, and amateur practitioners across Normandy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersCHERBOURG OCTEVILLE CEDEX, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie does
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie is a publicly funded non-profit cultural institution headquartered in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France, designated as one of France's few 'Pôles Nationaux Cirque' by the French Ministry of Culture. Founded in 2000 (with some sources indicating 2005 as the official founding year of the Pôle designation), the organization celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025. It operates as a circus creation factory (fabrique de cirque) supporting contemporary circus artists through approximately 20 two-week residencies per season, free public presentations of work-in-progress, and a portfolio of festivals including La Nuit du Cirque (November), Festival SPRING (March, touring Normandy), Escapades d'été (summer), and Piste d'Hiver (winter). La Brèche co-manages the 'Plateforme 2 Pôles Cirque en Normandie' alongside Cirque-Théâtre d'Elbeuf, providing regional coverage of circus creation and diffusion across Normandy. Its four stated public missions are supporting creation, diffusing performances, leading cultural actions for public access, and participating in national/international circus structuration.
The organization's revenue model is overwhelmingly grant-based, drawing on subsidies from the French State (Ministry of Culture via DGCA and DRAC), Region Normandy, Department of Manche, and Cotentin Agglomeration, which joined the board in 2025 replacing the city of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. Earned revenue is structurally marginal: public presentations are free, and the Pass AC(C)RO subscription offers reduced-rate access to performances. Complementary programs include the Les Étincelantes amateur practice support, Le Journal de la Création digital mediation, the CNAC end-of-studies residency partnership, and territorial projects such as PACTE in rural areas. Distribution runs through an on-site box office, the Mapado online ticketing platform, and co-presentations with regional partner venues (Le Circuit, Espace culturel de la Hague, Le Podium des Pieux). Leadership is in interim status under Lancelot Rétif (Director by interim since January 16, 2024) following the failure to recruit a permanent director, with Gérard Boittiaux chairing the board and Lise Hoëz-Guezennec serving as Secrétaire générale. The organization operates with a small permanent staff (1-10) supplemented by intermittent entertainment workers, and has experienced budget pressure in 2025, evidenced by the cancellation of Piste d'Hiver and the Orne department's withdrawal from SPRING.
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie
- Legal name
- La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie
- Website
- https://labreche.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- La Brèche is a publicly funded French National Circus Pole in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin that supports contemporary circus creation through ~20 artist residencies per season, free public presentations, and regional festivals, serving professional circus artists, local audiences, schools, and amateur practitioners across Normandy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- CHERBOURG OCTEVILLE CEDEX
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Public Funding: La Brèche receives funding from the French State (État), Normandy Region, Department of Manche, and Cotentin Agglomeration. The organization operates as a National Circus Pole with four public missions: supporting creation, welcoming and diffusing performances, leading cultural actions for public access, and participating in national/international circus structuration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Pass AC(C)RO subscription - reduced rate access to all shows |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie product offering
Product offeringCore offering
La Brèche is a National Circus Pole (Pôle National Cirque) operating as a circus creation factory in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France. It hosts approximately 20 artist residencies per year (typically two weeks each) where circus companies develop new shows, presents free public showings of work-in-progress, and organizes festivals (La Nuit du Cirque, Festival SPRING, Escapades d'été) alongside education and amateur-practice programs.
Product overview
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie is a circus creation factory and national circus pole located in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France. The organization operates as a unified venue offering artist residencies for circus creation, public presentations of work-in-progress, and multiple festivals including La Nuit du Cirque (November), Festival SPRING (March touring Normandy), Escapades d'Été (summer outdoor performances), and Piste d'Hiver (winter program). The portfolio includes subscription services (Pass AC(C)RO), education and mediation programs (Le Journal de la Création, Les Étincelantes amateur support), and writing residencies in partnership with Auteurs en tandem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SPRING Festival: Annual circus festival organized across Normandy with the Cirque-Théâtre d'Elbeuf
- La Nuit du Cirque
- Escapades d'été
- Les Étincelantes
- Piste d'Hiver
- Le Pass AC(C)RO
- Journal des Pistes
Products and services
- Les Résidences Two-week artist residencies for professional circus companies to develop new creations and writing projects at La Brèche's dedicated facilities.
- Les Présentations Publiques Free public presentations of work-in-progress shown at the close of each artist residency, open to general audiences.
- La Nuit du Cirque Annual circus festival held each November featuring performances and concerts in an open creation space, organized in partnership with Territoires de Cirque.
- Festival SPRING Major circus festival held each March, touring across Normandy in partnership with Cirque-Théâtre d'Elbeuf as part of the Plateforme 2 Pôles Cirque en Normandie.
- Escapades d'Été Summer outdoor circus performances and touring events held across Normandy.
- Pass AC(C)RO Season subscription pass providing reduced-rate access to all shows across the 4 Seasons of La Brèche after purchasing the first full-price ticket.
- Les Étincelantes Support program for amateur circus practices, partnering with circus schools including SoléAir and Saltimbrés to develop amateur skills.
- Les Résidences d'Écriture Writing residencies partnering with Auteurs en tandem, hosting pairs of writers (one from circus, one from theater) for research and reflection.
- Piste d'Hiver Winter circus season programming featuring indoor shows at reduced child-rate pricing for all audiences.
Quantifiable outcome
- Average 2 years from initial idea to finished circus show through residency support
Companies that use La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Cirque-Théâtre d'ElbeufcoreCo-manages the 'Plateforme 2 Pôles Cirque en Normandie' with La Brèche, covering the entire Normandy region for circus arts creation and diffusion. The two poles collaborate on festival SPRING programming.
- Le CircuitcoreLe Circuit - Scène de musiques actuelles dans le Cotentin co-presents events with La Brèche, including hosting concerts following circus presentations (e.g., Herman Dune concert after La Nuit du Cirque).
- CNACcoreCentre National des Arts du Cirque is the national circus arts school. La Brèche hosts end-of-studies performances by CNAC graduating classes and organizes circus workshops by CNAC students during European Heritage Days.
- Les SUBSmajorLes SUBS (Lyon) is a co-producer of circus productions developed at La Brèche, including 'Anitya, L'Impermanence' by Inbal Ben Haim. Also supported by circusnext with backing from Fondation de France.
- Cotentin AgglomerationcoreThe Cotentin Agglomeration (Communauté d'agglomération du Cotentin) is a new member of La Brèche's board of directors starting 2025-2026 season, taking over from the city of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.
- French State (État)coreThe French State, through the Ministry of Culture, provides funding and official recognition as a 'Pôle National Cirque'. Also provides support through DRAC for national creation aid.
- Region NormandycoreThe Normandy Region is a key public funding partner providing financial support for La Brèche's operations and programming.
- Department of ManchecoreThe Department of Manche provides funding support for La Brèche's activities and the SPRING festival organization.
- Territoires de CirquemajorOrganizes La Nuit du Cirque event with support from the Ministry of Culture, coordinating national circus night across France.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ARCHAOS – Pôle National Cirque (Marseille): National Circus Pole in Marseille with comparable mission of supporting circus creation, hosting residencies, and diffusing performances in Southern France. Directly comparable in scope and designation.
- CIRCa – Pôle National Cirque (Auch): National Circus Pole in Auch operating a comparable creation-and-diffusion model for circus artists, with residencies, festivals, and public presentations. One of the small number of institutions holding the same Pôle National Cirque designation.
- Agora – Pôle National Cirque (Boulazac): Pôle National Cirque based in Boulazac (Dordogne), running residencies, shows, and territorial cultural projects under the same French Ministry of Culture designation as La Brèche.
- Cirque-Théâtre d'Elbeuf: Sister Pôle National Cirque in Elbeuf and La Brèche's co-manager of the 'Plateforme 2 Pôles Cirque en Normandie.' Operates the same National Circus Pole designation and jointly runs the SPRING festival — the most directly comparable institution in France.
Broad incumbents
- Centre National des Arts du Cirque (CNAC): France's national circus arts training school in Châlons-en-Champagne. A core strategic partner of La Brèche — graduates perform end-of-studies shows there — and operates the highest-authority national remit for circus education and creation.
- Le Lido – Centre des Arts du Cirque de Toulouse: Toulouse-based circus arts center offering professional training, residencies, and performances. Comparable scope as a multi-purpose circus creation and presentation venue, though with a stronger training emphasis.
- Théâtre de la Ville – Paris: Major Parisian venue that programs contemporary circus alongside dance and theater; comparable as a presenting venue for touring circus productions co-developed by French creation centers including La Brèche.
Emerging players
- Le Citron Bleu – Centre National des Arts du Cirque: Circus creation and training center in Nantes with comparable residency, training, and diffusion activities for contemporary circus — overlapping with La Brèche's creation-factory model.
- Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde: Circus creation and outreach center in Caen (Normandy) focused on amateur practice, social circus, and emerging artists — partially overlapping La Brèche's territory and amateur-practice mission via Les Étincelantes.
Others
- Territoires de Cirque: National network coordinating La Nuit du Cirque and structuring contemporary circus across France — a key institutional partner of La Brèche and the sector-level organizer of one of its flagship annual events.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie social profiles
Digital presenceLa Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie
What does La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie do?
La Brèche is a National Circus Pole (Pôle National Cirque) operating as a circus creation factory in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France. It hosts approximately 20 artist residencies per year (typically two weeks each) where circus companies develop new shows, presents free public showings of work-in-progress, and organizes festivals (La Nuit du Cirque, Festival SPRING, Escapades d'été) alongside education and amateur-practice programs.
Is La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie a public or private company?
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie founded?
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie based?
La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie is headquartered in CHERBOURG OCTEVILLE CEDEX, France, in the Europe region.
How does La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Funding.
Who are La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ARCHAOS – Pôle National Cirque (Marseille), CIRCa – Pôle National Cirque (Auch), Agora – Pôle National Cirque (Boulazac) and Cirque-Théâtre d'Elbeuf. Broad incumbents are Centre National des Arts du Cirque (CNAC), Le Lido – Centre des Arts du Cirque de Toulouse and Théâtre de la Ville – Paris. Emerging players are Le Citron Bleu – Centre National des Arts du Cirque and Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde. Territoires de Cirque is listed as an others.
Does La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie have an API?
No public API is recorded for La Brèche, Pôle National Cirque de Normandie.