Together We Are Stronger

The Creative Residency Program provides paid creative residencies for developing companies making circus work in Tāmaki Makaurau.

The Creative Residency Program was born out of a desire to provide support for emerging circus companies in Tāmaki Makaurau and equip them with skills, tools and techniques specifically focussed on creating circus productions and expanding their bodies of work. 

Through an application process, the TWAS Residency will provide a 5 day residency to the successful company(ies), held at The Dust Palace. 

A Consultation Process prior to the residency will identify key areas of focus for the Residency Consultant to then design a program of tutors for the week. In addition to space and tutors, the selected company(ies) will receive a $3,000.00 financial contribution towards payment of their artists participating in the residency. 

The TWAS Residency is designed to facilitate the development of the tools required to shape circus skill into performance and therefore the residency(ies) does not focus on technique acquisition. Instead it focuses on areas such as movement generation, artistry, theatricality, and the creative process, as well as potential focus on the business side of running a circus company. 

It is our intention that the fostering and facilitation of these practices within the residency will transfer into the culture of the wider collective circus community, creating a healthy and supportive environment for sustainable production of works.

The only criteria is that the applicant is a young circus company, the definition of which is that they have been producing shows for 5 years or less. Beyond that applications will be assessed on their merit and alignment with the program. 

Applications for this program are currently closed. We’ll let you know when they open again!

The Professional Development Lab provides a place for further development of technical circus skills for the professional and emerging professional practitioners based in Tāmaki Makaurau.

The Professional Development Lab course shares high level skills and techniques in;

• Ground based circus skill 

• Aerial circus technique 

• Solo, duo and group techniques

The Professional Development Lab was born from the desire to share the wealth of knowledge held by some of our highly skilled circus practitioners living in Tāmaki Makaurau. The PDL course is a formalised way for professional circus practitioners to learn from each other and upskill in specialist techniques.

The current course offers 20 hours of free circus training with the city’s highest skilled practitioners to 15 - 20 applicants. The PDL course will be held in weekly workshops at The Dust Palace. 

Applicants must be of a level whereby there are no current classes or learning opportunities for up-skilling. The course specifically focuses on developing physical circus skills; in particular, ground, partner and group acrobatics, creative tumbling, equilibristics, dance and choreography.

Our first cycle of the program is in progress, running 9th August to 11th October 2021. Applications for this cycle are now closed.

Applications for this program are currently closed. We’ll let you know when they open again!