What National Circus Project does

National Circus Project (legal entity: Circus Education Specialists Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational arts-in-education organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Westbury, New York. It delivers in-school circus performances, hands-on circus skills workshops, and multi-day student circus productions to K-12 schools, summer camps, libraries, community centers, and corporate/special event clients. The organization is self-described as the oldest year-round circus education program operating in US schools and the most widely used program in the NYS BOCES Arts-in-Education Shared Services system. Over 35+ years, it has reportedly served more than 7 million participants, conducted 12,000+ performances and 70,000+ workshops, and annually serves 120–200 schools across 11+ US states plus Washington D.C., with prior international engagements in England, Russia, Singapore, and China.

The product portfolio is organized around three core offerings: Student Circus Productions (a 5-day program culminating in a student-performed circus show), Circus Skills Workshops (hands-on single or multi-day skill sessions), and Performances & Special Events (professional circus entertainment for corporate events and festivals). There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering is a service delivered by 13+ professional artist-instructors who are dually trained as circus specialists and education specialists. Revenue is generated primarily through customized per-program fees quoted by a dedicated Programs Marketing Director based on budget, schedule, participants, and customization requirements, supplemented by donations (via PayPal) and grant-related recognitions. The go-to-market is sales-led and direct, targeting school administrators, PTAs, and camp/community-center buyers through the BOCES network, organic social media, and direct outreach. The organization is led by Executive Director Greg Milstein (20-year tenure) and Staff Director Little Lou Beekhuizen. As a non-profit, NCP does not have equity investors, publicly disclosed financials, or a traditional ownership structure.

Name

National Circus Project

Legal name

Circus Education Specialists Inc.

Website

https://nationalcircusproject.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

National Circus Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that delivers in-school circus performances, skills workshops, and student circus productions to K-12 schools, camps, libraries, and community centers across 11+ US states, serving 120–200 schools annually with a roster of 13+ professional artist-instructors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Circus Education and Performance Services

NAICS

Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713), Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (7139), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development) (THAAAAAO), Training, Workshops & Certification Events (MPAGAGAJ)

Keywords

• Youth circus education
• School assembly programs
• Circus skills workshops
• Community circus performances
• Educational entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Westbury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Program Fees: Revenue generated from providing circus performances, skills workshops, and student circus productions to schools, camps, libraries, and community centers. Programs are customized based on budget, schedule, and participant needs. The company is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

National Circus Project provides live circus performances, hands-on circus skills workshops, and full student-produced circus shows to schools, camps, libraries, community centers, and corporate event buyers. Programs combine physical education, performing arts instruction, and life-skills development, delivered on-site at the customer's venue by the organization's roster of trained circus educators.

Product overview

National Circus Project is an educational arts-in-education outreach organization offering three core program types: Student Circus Productions (multi-day programs where students learn circus skills and perform their own shows), Circus Skills Workshops (hands-on single or multi-day skill sessions), and Performances & Special Events (professional circus entertainment for events). All programs are customizable by budget, schedule, space, and participant age/skill level, serving 120-200 schools annually primarily in the northeastern United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circus Performances (Assemblies)

Quantifiable outcome

• 35+ years of experience serving 7+ million participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NYS BOCES Arts-in-Education Shared ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Circus Project is the most widely used program in the NYS BOCES Arts-in-Education Shared Services system, providing circus education programs to schools throughout New York State.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Big Apple Circus: New York-based circus entertainment organization that shares significant talent overlap with NCP (multiple NCP artist-instructors are Big Apple Circus alumni). It is a larger, more established brand with a different business model (ticketed public productions) but operates in the same NYC circus ecosystem and competes for the same pool of trained performers.
• Cirque du Soleil: Global entertainment incumbent in circus arts and live performance with broad portfolio of shows and residencies. While not a direct competitor for in-school programs, it shapes the broader market for circus arts talent, sets consumer expectations, and influences how schools position circus programs.
• Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus (revival): Historic American circus brand that has restarted operations after its 2017 closure and remains a key training ground (Ringling Clown College) for talent NCP draws on. It is a broad incumbent that influences public perception of circus arts and provides alumni that flow into NCP's artist-instructor roster.

Others

• Purchase University Circus Program: SUNY Purchase hosts a prestigious circus training program where one of NCP's artist-instructors has taught for 9 semesters. It is an adjacent educational peer in circus training rather than a direct competitor, but competes for the same student talent pipeline.
• American Circus Educators Association: Professional association representing circus educators in North America. As an industry body rather than a competitor, it sets standards and convenes the community in which NCP operates, but is thematically relevant as it shapes the broader circus education market.

Direct peers

• Circus Smirkus: Vermont-based youth circus organization running circus education programs, summer camps, and touring shows for young people. It is a direct peer in mission (youth-focused circus arts education and performance) and competes for school and camp programming dollars in the Northeastern US.
• The Circus Project: Portland, Oregon-based social circus nonprofit using circus arts for youth and community development, offering classes and programming for schools and at-risk youth. Direct peer in combining circus arts with social/educational mission and competing for similar grant and school programming dollars in the Pacific Northwest.
• New England Center for Circus Arts: Brattleboro, VT-based circus school offering classes, workshops, and professional training programs. It is a direct peer in the educational arm of circus arts, with overlapping student demographics and competing for the same regional arts-in-education funding sources.
• Bindlestiff Family Circus: NYC-based family variety circus and Coney Island festival organizer featuring many of the same street and variety circus artists that work with NCP. It is a direct peer in the variety/physical theatre space and shares overlapping performer talent with NCP's roster.

Regional players

• French Woods Festival: New York performing arts summer camp offering circus arts as one of many specialty programs. It is a regional peer in the camp/circus intersection and competes with NCP for camp programming contracts in the Northeast summer camp market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/nationalcircuspro
• Facebookfacebook.com/National-Circus-Project-57855412611
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalcircusproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-circus-project

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 National Circus Project