Residencies
Research, concept, creation
Each year, the Zirkusquartier invites numerous circus professionals to participate in residencies of varying lengths and provides them with professional facilities and infrastructure.
The residencies often end with a public showing (work-in-progress) or a public workshop.
As part of the Swiss Circus Arts Network , the Zirkusquartier advocates for better research, rehearsal, and production opportunities for circus artists in Switzerland.
Application
We offer 1-week residencies during the research phase; for projects in an advanced stage with a proposal, we offer residencies lasting 1–2 weeks. The residencies take place either in the Circus Hall or in the mirror room. You can find more information about the facilities here. There are two application deadlines per year, on May 1 and November 1 (the same as for the Swiss Circus Arts Network; see below for more information).
Time periods
Spring / Summer (March-August)
- Application deadline: November 1, 2026
- Due to our move, we will not be able to offer residencies until June 2027. Possible time slots for residencies are:
- May 31 – June 10
- June 28 – July 2
- July 5–9
- July 12–16
- August 9–18
Fall / Winter (September – February)
- Application deadline: May 1, 2027
- Possible timeframes will be announced in early 2027.
Application Materials
For an application we need:
- A project description of what you or your group would like to do (about 1 A4 page). Feel free to attach sketches, inspirational photos, or videos.
- A brief, narrative-style resume for all participants.
- Desired time period
- Rigging and Technical Supplies
- Space requirements
- Stage of your project
- Do you need a space where you can move around freely, or would you need a space for writing?
- Can you imagine sharing a residence with another project?
- If you are coming by car or with a trailer, please let us know in advance.
It is possible to show a work-in-progress at the end of the residency. This is carried out and hosted independently by the artists.
Swiss Circus Arts Network
Are you looking for a space that’s suitable for your circus discipline so you can work on an idea or a project in progress?
The Zirkusquartier is part of the Swiss Circus Arts Network. In collaboration with Pro Helvetia and a nationwide network of venues, the Swiss Circus Arts Network offers residencies for circus artists. This network includes:
- Le Spot, Sion
- Station Circus Basel
- Südpol Lucerne
- Bühne Aarau / cirqu’Aarau
- Zirkusquartier Zurich
- Teatro Dimitri, in Verscio
- Usine à Gaz, Nyon
Each year, this network selects approximately five companies, which spend three to six weeks at a time at at least two of the venues over the course of two years and participate in a network meeting each November.
The goal is to strengthen networking within the local contemporary circus community and to improve opportunities for research, rehearsal, and production of circus creations in Switzerland.
The residency program includes free housing and rehearsal space, as well as a financial residency stipend. This stipend is currently CHF 500 per week for a solo artist, CHF 900 for a duo, CHF 1,200 for a trio, and CHF 1,500 for groups of four or more.
Please note the requirements:
- The call is aimed at professional artists in the field of contemporary circus.
- You have a connection to Switzerland in the form of Swiss members and/or a current place of work in Switzerland.
- The company participates in both network meetings. These take place at a different venue each year, typically on the Monday following the Nuit du Cirque.
Application deadline for 2027/28: November 1, 2026
You can find a list of the circus artists supported by the network so far here:
. For more information, visit the Circus Residency Network Switzerland website.
Previous residencies
2025
- Anna-Lisa Grebe & Andrina Hauri
- Marta Matovelle
- company labounce
- Luzia Adjuto
- Aramelo
- Simona Huber
- Cie Momoll!
- Federico Camelli
- Lotte Müller
- Cie Slop
- E1NZ
- Naomi Meyer
- Heavy Weight Pieces
- Ariane Oechsner
- Josefina Rozic
- Julia Tanner & Team
- Bastien Alvarez
- Théâtre Circulaire, Luca Lombardi
- Duo d’1m2
2024
- CIA Barro
- Marta & Milena
- Anna Kapp
- Inalto Mare
- Étoile Bizarre
- House of Hermess
- Los Babuinos
- Heavy Weight Pieces
- FREIFALL: Verena Schneider
- Les Mémoires d`Helène
- Milena Hofmann
- Finis Circus: Julio Adrian Yanes Melendrez
- Julia Tanner
- Less Kuerdas
- Bill and Fred Productions
- Lea Weber
- !UKBUM¡
2023
- Jeele Johannson, Salome Fischer & Simon Huggler
- Heavy Weight Pieces
- Bruta Bruja
- Cie Courant d’Cirque
- Cassandre Schopfer
- OTF – Marta & Dori
- Josh & Cloé
- Cie Après Coup
- Acrocinus Collectif
- Le Théâtre Circulaire
- Victoria Leymarie
- Hot Lines
- Cie Sept fois la langue
2022
- Cie EnShow
- Framing effect
- Noemi Egloff
- La horde dans les pavés
- Collectif Acrocinus
- Duo Gingermoustache
- Bastien Alvarez
- Cie Courant d’Cirque
- Utka Gavuzzo
- La Rue Serendip
- Mayra Bosshard and
- Eva Felicitas Krause
- Luzalica Lombrakel
2021
- Anja Eberhard
- Flying
- Cie Cirqu’en Choc
- Rémi & Mahé
- Laurence Felber
- Pebble & Kite
- Luca Lombardi
- Christine Daigle & Špela Vodeb
- Philippe Mariani Ducasse
- SoKi
2020
- vanderbolten.productions
- Paul-Emmanuel Chevalley
- The fusion projects
- Cirqu’en Choc
- LAB young theater Zurich
- Jeanine Ebn.ther Trott
- David Eisele
- Cie Sambura
Residence series with cirqu’Aarau:
- Sebastian Berger
- Andrea Salustri
- Ariane Oechsner
2019
- company.sh
- Anja Eberhart
- Claire Terrien (FR/DE)
- Cie. zanna
- Jeanine Ebnöther Trott
- ETAGE Berlin
- Diane Rodriguez
- Cirque Éloize (CA)
- Zirkus Chnopf
- Modern Miracles
2018
- KLUB GIRKO
- Stradini Theatre
- Cie. trottvoir
- Jungthaeter
- Children and Youth Circus Ragazzi
- Cie. Hands some Feet
- Prova.zh
- Cie. zanna
- Merker with Bieri / Murray / Pavillon/ Schoch