The future is bright for the circus sector in the south-west! Its innovation and creativity have been rewarded with a new Arts Council England funded project that will cultivate and tour incredible circus shows Around and About the south-west in 2024.

What will Circus Around and About 2 do?

Circus Around and About 2 will build on the successful 2021 pilot tour and go to new lengths to foster the burgeoning UK contemporary circus sector and tour extraordinary circus shows to rural and urban communities across the region. This 21 month project is spearheaded by a partnership between Somerset-based Take Art, London and Portsmouth based Crying Out Loud and national touring Extraordinary Bodies.

This ambitious new project will add value to everyone involved in the under-supported circus sector. The project will work with:

Educational institutions like Circomedia in Bristol, supporting rising circus artists to tour to audiences and progress their careers
Professional UK-based and international companies to create suitable work for rural audiences, and communities to present shows that provide access to great entertainment for their friends and neighbours
Organisations like Extraordinary Bodies, incorporating inclusive and progressive routines in everyday practice
Festivals, organisations and venues like Strike a Light (Gloucester), Super Culture (Weston Super Mare & North Somerset), School of Larks (Stroud), Artspace Cinderford (Forest of Dean) to programme high quality contemporary circus shows
Rural touring agencies including Carn to Cove (Cornwall), Beaford Arts (North Devon), Villages in Action (Devon), Artsreach (Dorset), Air in G (Gloucestershire) as well as Take Art (Somerset)
Bristol’s Circus City festival network and Circus Change Up, a national advocacy organisation, in collaboration with Bristol based Handstand Arts

Through Circus Around And About II we hope to strengthen the south-west rich mix of contemporary circus artists, training schools, festivals and local touring networks.
Ralph Lister, Executive Director, Take Art

We are delighted to be following up the CAAA pilot with a second scheme bringing more circus to more people, connecting communities through memorable and magical experiences.
Rachel Clare, Artistic Director, Crying Out Loud

We are so looking forward to broadening access for local audiences to great circus experiences. It will be brilliant to share what we have learned so everyone can take part in entertainment on their doorstep.
Becky Chapman, Executive Director, Diverse City for Extraordinary Bodies

Artist Call Out

The Project is inviting artists and circus companies wanting to tour from June to December 2024 to apply to be part of the Circus Around and About 2 menu. This will offer a choice of four companies to our rural and urban community presenting partners to programme in their spaces. The project is looking for 60 minute shows that are ready to tour (with adaptations in some cases) as well as a children and young people’s workshop and residency programme.

3 October: Applications open to circus artists and companies
27 October (noon): Deadline for applications
Tour Dates March to June 2024

For more information and to apply, follow this link.

Project Manager Role

Take Art will appoint a project manager to oversee the organisation and programming of circus tours across the region

The following experience and skills are essential:

Previous, proven project management experience, knowledge of touring small-scale circus and an understanding of rural touring.
Own means of transport to ensure that the role’s peripatetic nature is achievable

Application Deadline: 12 noon on 31st October 2023

Interviews: to be held Friday 10th November 2023 at the Take Art offices at The Mill, Flaxdrayton Farm, South Petherton, Somerset, TA13 5LR.

For more information and to apply, follow this link.