2023 Contemporary Circus Residency in Germany

Open Call

A research and residency opportunity for Finnish circus makers

To sustain the genre of contemporary circus within the international exchange the Finnland
Institut in Berlin, Circus & Dance Info Finland and BUZZ (Bundesverband Zeitgenössischer
Zirkus e.V.) are hosting in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut (Theatre/Dance department
of the Goethe-Institut headquarters in Munich and Goethe-Institut Helsinki) a research residency in Germany for a Finland based circus maker.

The chosen circus maker will spend up to 6 weeks in Germany visiting Cologne, Munich, Karlsruhe and Berlin. The residency will focus on the creative development of a personal project, artistic research and discovery of the German contemporary circus sector, networking and exchange opportunities and discussions with local circus makers. Applicants should demonstrate an active curiosity in the German contemporary circus sector and will be expected to document their experiences and to deliver a presentation on their experience or a work in progress showing at the culmination of the residency.

Partners of this program are and activities include:

23.05.-30.05.23 CircusDance Festival Cologne:

  • Attending the CircusDance Festival with international and local guests.
  • Attending the discussion programme and Roundtable sessions.
  • Discovering performances and insight into a circus-dance university exchange project.
30.05.-09.06. Pepe Arts@ Circus Hub Munich:
  • Creative development and research residency.
  • Professional networking and Roundtable sessions.
  • Informal creative exchange meetings with local artists.
09.06.-19.06. Tollhaus Karlsruhe:
  • Creative development and research residency, including technical support.
  • Professional networking and Roundtable sessions.
  • Informal creative exchange meetings with local artists.
19.06.-28.06. Chamäleon Berlin:
  • Creative development and research residency, including dramaturgical and technical support.
  • The opportunity for a by invitation-work in progress showing or research presentation on the Chamäleon stage. Participation in panel discussion on contemporary circus.
  • Professional networking and Roundtable sessions.
  • Informal creative exchange meetings with local artists.
The program is designed to strengthen cultural ties between the Finnish and German circus sectors and to support the cultural exchange/collaborations between circus artists and institutions. Interested artists must be available to complete the residency between 22nd of May and 30th June 2023. Due to venue and program availability these dates are not flexible. Applicants can be at any stage of their career and can be circus performers or creatives but the residency can only support research and small scale works in early stage development. The residency will provide travel, accommodation and an honorarium to cover living costs. The theatre/dance department of the headquarters of the Goethe-Institut will work with the chosen maker to create a detailed cultural and residency program.

The residency will provide travel, accommodation and an honorarium to cover living costs. The theatre/dance department of the headquarters of the Goethe-Institut will work with the chosen maker to create a detailed cultural and residency program.

To apply please submit the following:

  1. A short CV or biography
  2. No more than two weblinks to videos of your work or text examples
  3. A written submission detailing:
  • Why you want to explore the German contemporary circus sector (max 250 words)
  • How time in Germany will assist your professional development (max 250 words)
  • A description of the project or idea you would like to develop (max 500 words)
Applications should be submitted by email in word or pdf format to:
Miika Sillanpää, Head of Communications Circus & Dance Info Finland
miika.sillanpaa@circusdance.fi


A jury of members from the involved institutions, venues and an independent artist will make the decision until March 25th.

Applications close midday at 12:00 on the 3rd of March, 2023.

For further information Lotta Nevalainen, Head of International Development, Circus & Dance Info Finland is available for questions by phone (+358 40 303 8339) on Monday 13 February @ 9–14, Wednesday 15 February @ 14–16 and Wednesday 1 March @ 14–16.
lotta.nevalainen@sirkusinfo.fi