Call for Artists and Companies - Circus Around and About + (CAAA+)

Circus Around And About + (CAAA+) is seeking circus artists to take part in the project touring from June 2027 to May 2028. This is a fantastic opportunity for artists to tour existing work to rural locations, with the support from our team. Led by Take Art and Circus City and supported by Arts Council England, CAAA+ will bring circus performances to diverse new audiences in villages, towns and cities across south-west England.

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If you have…

• a finished 60-minute indoor or outdoor circus performance, available for touring June 2027 to May 2028
• a full film of your show
• and are excited to reach new people with your work and adapt it to different places, including parks, housing estates, community centres, village halls, churches, beaches and schools.

‍Please get in touch.

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Some of the things the selected artists will receive:

• guaranteed fees in the region of £1,350-£1,500 total per performance day forUK-based companies and 2100€ total per performance day for EU-based companies,including the cost of performance, local and regional travel, subsistence (foodetc), rest days and VAT if applicable.
• Home-stay accommodation convenient to touring locations and some meals with local hosts
• Subsidy for additional travel and set transport costs, including international costs.
• Personal access costs to address any barriers touring presents to Disabled performers and touring crew.
• Mentoring and technical and logistical support from the project team.
• A paid, residential artist lab in which we will explore the opportunities and challenges of circus touring in rural and urban community venues
• A bursary of up to £1000-£1500 to adapt your show for community touring, if required.

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Circus Around and About + gives you the opportunity to tour your existing work across rural parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Somerset and in urban community venues in Cinderford, Gloucester, Bristol, Stroud, Bridport and Weston Super Mare.

Four companies will be selected for touring from this call out. If you’re among them, we’ll aim to offer you at least 4-5 performances out of a total of 26.

An inclusive programme

We want to create a menu of circus work for our presenters that is representative of the diverse communities of the UK, including those who are underrepresented in rural cultural life. In particular, we’d like to include the Global Majority and Deaf and Disabled identifying people. If this feels relevant to your company you will have the opportunity to share this on the application form.

Who has toured before?

In 2024, Circus Around and About 2 toured Collective Contakt, Nikki & JD, Max Calaf Seve, Levantes Dance Theatre, Poppy Plowman and Matt Pang & Owen Reynolds. You can watch a video about the project below.

In addition to the 4 companies selected through this call-out, we will also be touring Cie Zalatai and Head Over Wheels as part of CAAA+.

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How to apply

If you’re interested in this opportunity, please read through the FAQ’s before making an application and get in touch if you need further support understanding if the opportunity is right for you and your show.  

To apply, please fill in the application form, which you can find here, by noon on 19 October 2026.

You will need have a link to a full recording of your show ready to provide with your application; this can be Youtube, Vimeo or Google Drive.

 If you need any support with your application, or if applying in another format (for example, BSL, audio or video) would be more accessible for you, please contact ralph@takeart.orgor phone 01460 249450 and we’ll arrange this.

The selection process

A panel of representatives from Take Art, Circus City and the presenting partners will choose which circus artists and companies to include on the menu. Please see the FAQ’s for more on the criteria.

Key dates

• 7th September 2026: Applications open
• 19th October 2026: Deadline for applications
• Start of November 2026:  You find out if you’ve been selected
• Late November/Early December 2026: Practical Introduction to Rural and Urban Community Touring for Circus Lab
• Early of December 2026 : Deadline for sending us information and images to include on the menu
• January 2027: Menu sent to touring partners
• End of February 2027: Tour booking deadline forpresenters and dates to be confirmed with menu artists shortly after
• June 2027- May 2028: Touring period

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For further info and FAQ please see the application pack.

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