Le Prato - Pôle National Cirque - Lille

What Le Prato - Pôle National Cirque - Lille does

Le Prato – P\u00f4le National Cirque – Lille is a French non-profit cultural association (association loi 1901) and one of eight national circus poles (P\u00f4les Nationaux Cirque) designated by the French Ministry of Culture. The organization operates a contemporary circus venue at 6 all\u00e9e de la Filature in the Lille-Moulins neighborhood, hosting a 2026-2027 season of 41 shows, 14 creations, 68 performances, 34 companies, 11 workshops, and 9 residencies. Sub-brands include the biennial Toiles dans la ville festival (7,000+ spectators per edition), Moulins dimanche (free outdoor events), Belles Sorties (outreach to 11+ Lille M\u00e9tropole communes), La Nuit du Cirque, Le Prato \u00e0 St So, and the annual Saint Sida event.

The business model blends earned and public income. Earned revenue derives from ticket sales (€15 standard, €10 reduced, €5 adapted), a 6-show subscription at €60, annual memberships at €10, and bar/catering. The dominant revenue source is public subsidies from the Minist\u00e8re de la Culture (DRAC Hauts-de-France), R\u00e9gion Hauts-de-France, M\u00e9tropole Europ\u00e9enne de Lille, the city of Lille, and lille3000, supplemented by coproduction partnerships across the national pole network (Archaos, Circa, UtoPistes, CRAC, \u00c9cole de Ch\u00e2tellerault) and the 4HdF regional network (Le Boulon, Cirque Jules Verne, Culture Commune). Ticketing is processed via Mapado; box office operates Tuesday–Friday 14h–18h and one hour before performances.

Le Prato serves a hybrid audience: general public (families, individual ticket buyers), schools and educational institutions (cr\u00e8ches through lyc\u00e9es), social and medico-social institutions (prison service, youth protection, social workers), and professional circus companies/artists through a residency and associated-artist program. Core technology is minimal (website, social media, newsletter, Mapado); programming is community-led and event-driven, with inclusive pricing (billets suspendus, adapted rates for vulnerable populations) and active geographic outreach across Lille and the Hauts-de-France region. The organization is navigating a leadership transition following the December 2024 death of founder Gilles Defacque, with J\u00e9r\u00f4me S\u00e9gard continuing as Responsable des actions artistiques et culturelles et coprogrammateur.

Name

Le Prato - Pôle National Cirque - Lille

Legal name

Le Prato - Pôle National Cirque - Lille

Website

https://leprato.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Le Prato is a French non-profit cultural association and designated P\u00f4le National Cirque in Lille, presenting contemporary circus programming and community outreach across the Hauts-de-France region, funded primarily by public subsidies and ticket sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH)

Keywords

• Contemporary circus performances
• Artist residencies coproductions
• Cultural outreach programs
• Circus workshops education
• Performing arts venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Lille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from individual show tickets at standard pricing (15€), reduced rates (10€), and adapted rates (5€). Also includes subscription model at 10€ per show for 6-show packages.
2. Public Funding and Subsidies: As a Pôle National Cirque and cultural venue, Le Prato receives public funding from Ministry of Culture (DRAC), Lille3000, Hauts-de-France Region, Métropole Européenne de Lille, and Nord Department. Multiple coproduction partnerships with national and regional circus poles.
3. Membership and Adhesion: Annual membership available at 10€ supporting the association and venue operations.
4. Bar and Catering: Bar services open 1 hour before each performance offering local/bio drinks and light catering (soups, tarts, sandwiches).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Le Prato is a national circus pole and performing arts venue that programs and hosts contemporary circus performances, festivals, and cultural outreach initiatives for the Hauts-de-France region. The venue produces and presents a seasonal program of approximately 41 shows including 14 creations and 68 performances, runs signature programs (biennial Toiles dans la ville festival, Moulins dimanche, Belles Sorties, La Nuit du Cirque), and supports artists through residencies and coproductions. It also delivers cultural action programs to schools, social institutions, and the justice sector.

Product overview

Le Prato - Pôle National Cirque - Lille is a National Circus Pole and performing arts venue in Lille, France. Rather than a unified software product, it operates a portfolio of live performance programs and community initiatives. The venue serves as both a host for contemporary circus creations and a producer of its own programming. Key offerings include: in-venue performances at 6 allée de la Filature, the biennial 'Toiles dans la ville' circus festival, 'Moulins dimanche' free outdoor events in the Lille-Moulins neighborhood, 'Belles Sorties' outreach to metropolitan municipalities, 'La Nuit du Cirque' national event, educational workshops ('Déclinaisons circassiennes'), and off-site programming at St So.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Les Toiles dans la ville: Biennial outdoor circus festival organized by Le Prato in Lille metropolitan area and region
• Belles Sorties
• Moulins dimanche
• La Nuit du Cirque
• Le Prato à St So
• Saint Sida

Products and services

• Toiles dans la ville Biennial circus festival organized by Le Prato featuring performances under tents, in venues, and in public spaces across Lille and the metropolitan area, with international artistic exchanges (FiCho festival in Chihuahua, Mexico) and partnerships across the Hauts-de-France region.
• Moulins dimanche Free outdoor circus performances and workshops held in the Lille-Moulins neighborhood in partnership with Cirque du Bout du Monde, providing accessible neighborhood-based cultural programming.
• Belles Sorties Mobile circus performances bringing shows to municipalities across the Lille Metropolitan area (11+ communes including Willems, Chéreng, Saint-André-lez-Lille, Verlinghem, Lompret, Pérenchies, Haubourdin, Wattignies, Salomé, Wavrin, Fournes-en-Weppes, Baisieux, Comines), in partnership with Métropole Européenne de Lille.
• La Nuit du Cirque Annual national circus event held simultaneously across France and 18 other countries, celebrating contemporary circus arts, with Le Prato serving as the local host for Lille programming.
• Déclinaisons circassiennes Full-day circus discovery and practice workshops led by professional circus artists, open to various public groups including schools, social institutions, and the general public.
• Le Prato à St So Off-site circus programming at Cours St So and Gare Saint Sauveur, in partnership with lille3000, extending Le Prato's programming beyond its main Filature venue.
• Saint Sida Annual sero-solidary and festive evening organized for World AIDS Day, in partnership with J'en suis J'y reste and the Planning Familial, combining awareness-raising with festive cultural programming.
• Season 2026-2027 Programming Seasonal program of 41 contemporary circus shows including 14 creations by 34 companies, with 68 performances, 11 workshops, and 9 artist residencies. Season 2026-2027 brochure downloadable from the website.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7000+ spectators per biennial festival edition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Maison de la Culture de TournaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for coproduction and presentation of Cie d'un Ours's 'Tombouctou' spectacle. Cross-border cultural cooperation between French and Belgian cultural institutions.
• Tourcoing Jazz FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Schize' presentation at Tourcoing Jazz Festival, with residency support at Maison Folie Hospice d'Havré. Music and circus crossover event.
• Musée de Flandre (Cassel)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgramming partnership for 'Jonglerie et magie' performance within the museum's exhibition 'Tout ange est terrible' by Marie-Jo Lafontaine.
• Ballet Cosmique (Cie d'un Ours)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLe Prato is a coproduction partner for Ballet Cosmique's Cie d'un Ours productions including 'Tombouctou' and 'La Vie de ma mère'. Ballet Cosmique is described as the planetary network for Cie d'un Ours.
• Archaos - Pôle National Cirque (Marseille)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction and residency support for 'Ignis' by Collectif Sismique. National network of circus poles collaborating on creation.
• Circa - Pôle National Cirque (Auch)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for 'Ignis' and 'Le Premier Artifice'. National network of eight circus poles in France.
• UtoPistes - Pôle National Cirque (Métropole de Lyon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for 'La Vie de ma mère'. Also partner for international cooperation with Latin America through FiCho festival in Chihuahua, Mexico.
• 4HdF (Regional Cooperation Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cooperation between Le Boulon (Vieux-Condé), Cirque Jules Verne (Amiens), Culture Commune, and Le Prato. Joint professional encounters, bus trips, and festival programming.
• Le Boulon - Centre National des Arts de la Rue (Vieux-Condé)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of 4HdF network. Partner for Les Turbulentes festival and joint touring initiatives. One of France's national circus/street arts venues.
• Cirque Jules Verne - Pôle National Cirque (Amiens)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of 4HdF network. Joint programming including Le Prato à St So event. Coproduction partner for multiple shows. Bus trip organization to their festival Les Tentaculaires.
• FiCho Festival (Chihuahua, Mexico)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cooperation through Toiles dans la ville festival with artistic exchange. Also involves u_toPistes Lyon. Connections with Latin American artists (Chile, Argentina, Colombia).
• Cirque du Bout du MondecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for community programming including Moulins dimanche outdoor events and Family Circus day during Nuit du Cirque.
• lille3000coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural program partnership for Les Toiles dans la ville festival. Lille3000 organizes major cultural events in Lille metropolitan area.
• CRAC - Centre Régional des Arts du Cirque (Lomme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional circus school partnership for student performances (3e année en piste), workshops, and the Macadam Caravan project for street performance training.
• Métropole Européenne de Lille (MEL)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFunder and partner for Belles Sorties outreach program bringing performances to 11+ communes. Festival sponsorship and regional cultural development.
• Territoires de CirquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization coordinating La Nuit du Cirque event across France. Le Prato serves as local host for Nuit du Cirque programming.
• École Nationale de Cirque de ChâtelleraultminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction and residency partner for 'Cabanographie' and 'Ignis'. National circus school collaboration.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Maison de la Culture de Tournai: Belgian cultural institution and active Le Prato coproduction partner (e.g., 'Tombouctou' by Cie d'un Ours). Comparable venue-presenting and cross-border cooperation mission in the Franco-Belgian cultural space.
• CRAC - Centre Régional des Arts du Cirque (Lomme): Regional circus school in Lomme near Lille, formally partnered with Le Prato for student performances, workshops, and street performance training (Macadam Caravan). Shares the regional circus talent pipeline mission.
• Le Boulon - Centre National des Arts de la Rue (Vieux-Condé): Vieux-Condé-based national street arts center, core 4HdF partner of Le Prato, and host of Les Turbulentes festival. Comparable scale and subsidy-dependent operating model, with overlapping festival and touring programming.
• Archaos - Pôle National Cirque (Marseille): Marseille-based Pôle National Cirque and active coproduction partner of Le Prato (e.g., 'Ignis' by Collectif Sismique). Comparable operating model with venue, residencies, and national-level French circus creation mission.
• La Brèche - Pôle National Cirque (Cherbourg): Cherbourg-based Pôle National Cirque with the same national designation as Le Prato. Operates a comparable venue, residencies, and contemporary circus creation focus within the French national pole network.
• UtoPistes - Pôle National Cirque (Lyon): Lyon-based Pôle National Cirque and Le Prato coproduction partner (e.g., 'La Vie de ma mère'). Shares the same national designation and venue-presenting structure, also coordinating Latin American exchange via FiCho.
• Cirque Jules Verne - Pôle National Cirque (Amiens): Another French Pôle National Cirque in the Hauts-de-France region and core member of Le Prato's 4HdF network. Both poles operate dedicated contemporary circus venues with public funding, artist residencies, and regional programming mandates.
• Circa - Pôle National Cirque (Auch): Pôle National Cirque in Auch and coproduction partner of Le Prato on multiple productions. Operates a similar venue-and-festival model focused on contemporary circus creation and touring in France.

Broad incumbents

• Cirque du Soleil: Global commercial circus leader headquartered in Montreal. Differs vastly in commercial scale and touring business model but operates in the same contemporary circus category and sets the benchmark for circus arts visibility in France and internationally.

Regional players

• TOHU - Cité des Arts du Cirque (Montreal): Montreal-based circus arts center combining venue operations, artist residencies, and environmental circus production. Geographically distinct but operates a comparable nonprofit, subsidy-supported, multidisciplinary circus programming model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCV2k0GpR4k-lbuDpgUWStDA
• Facebookfacebook.com/prato.lille
• Instagraminstagram.com/leprato.pnc/?hl=fr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-prato

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 Le Prato - Pôle National Cirque - Lille