Organizer Information
The CIRCUS LOOPS programme is a European cooperation project led by three established contemporary circus and performing arts organisations:
- Circusstad Festival (Netherlands)
- Zirkus ON (Germany)
- Cirkus Kolektiv (Croatia)
The project is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme.
Together, these organisations operate within the European contemporary circus ecosystem, combining festival production, artist development, and cross-border cultural collaboration. Their shared objective is to strengthen contemporary circus creation by introducing experimental dramaturgical tools that integrate structured audience participation into artistic development processes.
CIRCUS LOOPS is positioned not only as a residency programme but also as a research-driven methodological project, aiming to redefine how audience feedback can function as an active co-creative component in performing arts development.
Title & Description
CIRCUS LOOPS – Feedback Loops Residency & Creation Programme for Contemporary Circus Artists
CIRCUS LOOPS is a two-year European development and residency programme designed for contemporary circus artists or collectives working on early to mid-stage creations. The core aim is to develop and test an innovative dramaturgical framework called “Feedback Loops”, which integrates structured audience feedback into the artistic creation process.
Selected artists will participate in a transnational residency journey across Croatia, Germany, and the Netherlands. Each project will engage in three 10-day residencies, where they will present work-in-progress showings and participate in facilitated feedback sessions involving diverse audience groups (including non-professional viewers such as young people, seniors, and refugees).
The programme reframes audience interaction as a co-dramaturgical tool, enabling artists to refine their work based on structured, iterative feedback cycles rather than traditional post-performance commentary.
The process concludes with public presentations (not premieres) at partner festivals, allowing further visibility and professional networking within the European circus field.
Categories
- Contemporary Circus
- Performing Arts
- Live Art / Experimental Performance
- Physical Theatre
- Interdisciplinary Performance Creation
- Artistic Research & Development
Eligibility
- Individual contemporary circus artists OR small collectives/companies
- Based in Europe or countries eligible under the Creative Europe programme (including EU member states and associated countries)
- Artists working in the early or mid-stage creation of a new project
- Applicants must form a core team of up to 3 artists
- Must be fully available for all residencies and final presentations
- Applicants must not be enrolled in full-time education during the programme
Additional conditions:
- Projects must not premiere before the end of the residency trajectory (July 2027 onward allowed)
- Strong interest in audience participation and feedback-based creation is required
- Applicants must be willing to engage in repeated public work-in-progress showings and structured critique processes
- Open to both solo artists and collectives without hierarchy in selection preference
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected projects receive:
Financial Support
- €3,746 gross per core team member (total across programme phases)
- Includes residency participation and final presentation fees
- Structured as EU Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP)
Residency Programme
- Three fully funded 10-day residencies in:
- Split, Croatia
- Karlsruhe, Germany
- Rotterdam, Netherlands
Logistical Support
- Travel costs covered
- Accommodation provided
- Daily per diems included (organized by partners)
Artistic Development
- Structured feedback sessions with audiences and experts
- Multiple work-in-progress showings per residency
- Integration into the “Feedback Loops” methodology development process
Visibility & Networking
- Final presentations at major partner festivals:
- Circusstad Festival (Netherlands)
- Split Calling Festival (Croatia)
- ATOLL Festival (Germany)
- International exposure to curators, programmers, and festival networks
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Project description (concept, themes, artistic format)
- Stage of development and next steps
- Core team CVs (maximum 3 members)
- Motivation statement (interest in Feedback Loops methodology)
- Video material (max 2 minutes, links only)
- Technical requirements (if applicable)
- General project and contact information
Language requirement:
- All applications must be submitted in English
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Deadline: 17 June 2026, 23:59 CET
- Jury evaluation: 27 June – 20 July 2026
- Results announced: By 25 July 2026
- Kick-off meeting: 25 July 2026
Residencies:
- Split (Croatia): 19–28 November 2026
- Karlsruhe (Germany): 6–15 February 2027
- Rotterdam (Netherlands): 12–21 July 2027
Final presentations:
- Karlsruhe: 20–23 September 2027
- Split: 28–30 October 2027
- Rotterdam: 3–7 May 2028
Location
Croatia (Split), Germany (Karlsruhe), Netherlands (Rotterdam)
Additional Details
- Projects are evaluated by an international jury of 6 members (partners + external experts)
- Selection is based on artistic quality, feasibility, motivation, and relevance to feedback-based methodology
- Minimum score threshold: 30/50
- Strong emphasis on audience interaction as a creative methodology, not just evaluation
- Activities are documented (photo/video) for EU reporting and promotion
- Double EU funding is strictly prohibited
- Jury may include “wild card” selections for experimental or high-risk artistic proposals
- Selected artists must participate in all residencies without exception