Cirko’s Artistic Residencies

One of Cirko’s core missions is to advance circus as an art form. This mission is pursued through a year-round residency program and various artistic development initiatives.

Anyone can apply for a residency, but the working group must include a Finnish or Finland-based circus arts professional.

Cirko offers artists-in-residence high-quality spaces for artistic work in circus, and when possible, access to offices, stage technology, production support, as well as artistic mentoring—within the working hours of Cirko staff. Residency periods typically last from one to three weeks. During this time, artists and groups can train, develop their work, and, if they wish, share it with wider audiences, co-producers, or potential buyers in open rehearsals.

Cirko’s residencies are paid opportunities, meaning artists receive a residency fee while also paying a nominal rent for the facilities. For instance, in 2024, Cirko hosted 59 workweeks of residencies involving 132 artists.

Residency selections are made by a working group composed of Cirko staff. The selection criteria emphasize artistic vision, the professionalism of both the working group and the project plan, national representation, diversity, and the project’s compatibility with Cirko’s facilities. The program supports artists at different stages of their careers and welcomes projects in various phases of development.

Cirko’s Residency Types:

1. Artistic Development Residencies
Applied for annually in Cirko’s residency open call

• Cirko residencies
• Summer and Christmas residencies
• ”Esityskiihdyttämö” / Performance Accelerator

2. w/ Co-production Residencies
Applied for in a separate international co-production call

3. International Collaboration Residencies
Applied for in separate calls

• Circusnext Residencies
• Other international collaboration residencies
  (Goethe Institute Residency for example)

4. Short Residencies
Applied for in a separate call or agreed as part of a letter of intent / performance agreement

• Member Residencies
• Practice/Warm-up Residencies before Cirko’s performance season

5. Educational Collaboration Residencies
Cirko reserves residency time annually for newly graduated or graduating students from Turku University of Applied Sciences & Koulutuskeskus Salpaus.

Read more about Cirko’s residency programme.

Artists and groups in residency in 2026

Based on Kimberly
15feet6
Hannu Juntunen
Keskeneräiset WIP
Saila Jantunen & June Horton-White
Circusnext / Aurora Dini & Cedric Orain
Akropatit
Heidi Miikki
Anna Karoliina Patama
Blind Gut Company
Turku Arts Academy students
TipTop Walkers
Kallo Collective
Oh My Puppets!
SASAK students
Nuua Company
Aino Savolainen & Ghia Lumia Fieandt
Galapiat Cirque/Collectif MAD
Barge
Omiaruhje

(Due to cancellations and additional calls, the list may not fully reflect the residencies that will actually take place.)