Who we are
CIRCa is a leader in the field and as such is committed to promoting circus. It uses different approaches to achieve its missions as a national hub for circus : seasonal programme, itinerant big top, supporting companies in their creation process, cultural activities, a festival of contemporary circus...
A singular story and different transformations made CIRCa what it is now. Nowadays 16 people work in the team as permanent employees.
The project
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Preamble to the artistic and cultural project of CIRCa 2016 - 2019 As an expert in the field CIRCa is committed to promoting circus arts. Through artistic and cultural projects (detailed below), the organisation develops and achieves its mission as a National hub for circus. Context Initiated by members of the Jeune Chambre Economique (Economic Chamber of young business people), the CIRCA Festival was created in 1988. In 2001, CIRCUITS scène conventionnée pour les arts du cirque (national subsidised venue dedicated to circus arts) was created to develop a specific project between 2001 and 2011. Then the association obtained a State quality-label to become a national hub for circus arts and took the name of CIRCa. CIRCa’s work in performing arts is well recognised locally and its work in circus arts is well established both nationally and internationally. The Auch Town Council, the Conseil Départemental du Gers Local Council, the Région Midi-Pyrénées County Council and the French State co-funded new facilities dedicated to circus creation: the CIRC, Circus Innovation and Research Centre. Opened in August 2012, this new innovative and cultural facility, committed to producing and promoting circus arts, is aimed at:
This facility represents an important milestone in the development of CIRCa's project. Thanks to CIRCa's project, the contemporary circus family is now deep rooted in the region. The CIRC enables to continue this pioneer adventure involving artists and local inhabitants and establishing it long-term. CIRCA has allowed audiences closer engagement with artists and performing arts, both on stage and behind the scenes. Due to :
Goal 1: Artistic missions, creation process, production
Goal 2: Territorial and cooperative missions: programming
Goal 3: territorial missions for audiences
Goal 4: professional missions
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CIRCa's story
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1975 : Genesis of a circus story in Auch. The priest De Lavenère-Lussan, teacher at the secondary school Oratoire Sainte Marie, initiated a circus workshop in the attic of the school. The Pop Circus, circus school of Auch was born. 1986 : Members of the Jeune Chambre Economique (Economic Chamber of young business people) wished to create an innovative project with added social, economic and cultural interest. They set their eyes on circus. 1988 : With the support of Auch Town Council, the Jeune Chambre Economique organised an event to unite French circus schools and promote New Circus. The non profit-organisation CIRCA was created and organised its 1st festival, carried out by volunteers. 1989 : The CNAC (National Centre for Circus Arts) and the FFEC (French Federation of Circus Schools) founded at Circa a long-awaited place which made circus schools meetings possible. At this moment, Circa was also looking for financial support and got a favourable response from the Ministry of Culture. 1990 - 1995 : The number of gatherings increased under the big tops in Auch. A new generation of artists emerged from the festival. This meeting space enabled thoughts and exchanges on circus arts. At the time, the Festival was focusing on training courses under the supervision of the FFEC, the National School for Circus Arts of Rosny sous Bois (ENACR) and the CNAC. 1996 : The festival opens its doors to young professional companies. By then it was becoming well known internationally as the ideal meeting place for circus schools, artists and professionals from art industry. All new circus arts forms are henceforth presented at the Festival: theatre, dance, music and other performing arts mixed with circus disciplines in increasingly innovative and amazing shows. 1998, 1999 : Circa signed a convention with DRAC Midi-Pyrénées - Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Conseil Régional Midi-Pyrénées, the Conseil Départemental du Gers and Auch Town Coucil. During this time it further developed its support to the creation process and the promotion of circus arts by running artistic residential programmes and by programming circus shows. 2001 : Circa became CIRCUITS scène conventionnée (nationally subsidised venue) Auch – Gers – Midi-Pyrénées. CIRCUITS took charge of Circa Festival organisation and seasonal programme. By then it was recognised as one of the main “Circus Arts Hub” in France and received the quality-label as a “national subsidised venue for circus arts”. 2003 : Circa Festival took place in Auch-centre, forging a new relationship with the town and its inhabitants. 2007 : 20th edition of Circa Festival. The CIRC, Circus Innovation and Research Centre became true : CIRCa received the quality-label “Pôle d’Excellence Rurale” for the project of building facilities dedicated to circus creation. 2011 : The construction work of the CIRC started on the former Caserne Espagne (a military site) in January. CIRCUITS became CIRCa, pôle national arts du cirque (national hub for circus arts), a new quality-label devised by the Ministry of Culture and Communication. 2012 : After 19 months of construction work, CIRCa moved into the CIRC, allée des arts in Auch in August. For the launch of the venue and as a preview of the 25th Festival of Contemporary Circus, CIRCa welcomed Zingaro equestrian theatre. 2015 : CIRCa created buzz by hosting the last Zingaro show as well as the well known Cirque Plume which then celebrated then its 30th anniversary. Since 2015, every year, the CIRC receives an average of 100 artistic teams, either artists in residence or shows programmed during the Season or during the Festival of Contemporary Circus. |
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Permanent staff
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Direction Stéphanie BULTEAU |
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Artists Department |
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Administration Emeline FEVOTTE |
Production and Programming Manager Camille CHARRU |
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Programming and production assistant Marieke REINQUIN |
Frédéric DECOTTE |
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In charge of welcoming artists Sarah HARMACH |
Administration & technical assistant Jennyfer GARY |
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Artists & Techniques |
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Technical & logistical Director Daniel DE ARAUJO |
Stage Manager Romain MOUSQUEY |
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Stage Manager Stanilas MICHALSKI
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Stage Manager Chloé ROGER |
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Responsible for workshop (recruiting) |
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Public Relation |
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Chief Administrative Officer Laure BAQUÉ |
Relations with Audiences Mathieu HEDDE |
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Information & Communication Guillaume GUIBERT |
Reception Desk and Box Office Tiphaine ROZES |
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Information & Communication Natacha FANTINI |
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Festival of Contemporary Circus |
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Technical management Vincent MASSE |
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Board Members
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Active Members : Ex officio Members : Auch Town Council : Grand Auch Agglomération (local council): Conseil Départemental du Gers (local council): Occitanie (County Council) : Ministry of Culture and Communication : Associate Members : Honorary Members : |
