{"id":8455,"date":"2022-12-14T10:02:41","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T09:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zirkusquartier.ch\/zirkusquartier-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T11:15:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T09:15:27","slug":"zirkusquartier-2027","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/zirkusquartier.ch\/en\/zirkusquartier-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"A Home for the Circus"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Annik Vanal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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New Construction Zirkusquartier Zurich<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2027, the Zirkusquartier will return to its original location in the Koch-Quartier. There, a production, performance, training, and learning center for contemporary circus\u2014the only one of its kind in Switzerland\u2014will be created: a space for children, teenagers, and adults, professional artists, and the neighborhood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Zirkusquartier grew out of the Zirkus Chnopf <\/em>community\u2014from a long history of touring, productions, classes, and collaborative work. With ZQ27, this story now has a permanent home: open, professional, close to the neighborhood, and ready for the next generation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this building to reach its full potential, we now need broad support for the final stage of funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Donate Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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A place where the circus is born, grows, and brings people together<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Contemporary circus combines acrobatics, artistic expression, play, and community\u2014it is accessible, immediate, and open to children and adults alike, as well as to audiences and people who want to get involved themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many years, Zirkus Chnopf<\/em> has demonstrated just how powerfully the circus can bring people together: on tour, in productions, in classes, and through its work with young people. The new Zirkusquartier builds on this experience, providing the necessary infrastructure and creating a space that, in this form, is virtually unprecedented in Switzerland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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700 m\u00b2 for the circus, production, and community engagement<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A building is taking shape in the Koch-Quartier that brings together a variety of functions: performances, rehearsals, training, classes, workshops, offices, and community space. This will transform the Zirkusquartier into a vibrant hub and meeting place for the independent arts scene, class participants, audiences, and the neighborhood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visualization of Koch Park \u00a9Atelier Arpagaus Sommer Zarn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Circus Hall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A space for performances, residencies, rehearsals, and professional productions\u2014equipped with technical infrastructure for contemporary circus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Course hall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Training and Learning Center: A space for an extensive program of courses\u2014for all age groups and skill levels, for workshops, and for accessible introductions to the circus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mirror room<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A space for movement, bodywork, dance, deepening, training, and preparation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Workshop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A production space for set design and material experiments\u2014for theater companies, resident artists, and emerging artists.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Foyer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A gathering space for residents, the public, course participants, and artists, connected to Koch Park<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Koch Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The public park connects the Koch-Quartier. The historic coal storage warehouse also serves as a venue for the Zirkus Chnopf and <\/em>other open-air performances. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Circus for Everyone<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Circus creates spaces where people can try new things, develop confidence in their own bodies, and become part of a group. The Zirkusquartier works with children, teenagers, families, schools, adults, and seniors, as well as with social partner organizations, including those focused on refugee support and integration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the new location, these offerings are set to expand further: courses, school projects, open training sessions, workshops with young refugees, solidarity-based funding models, and formats that provide access to people regardless of their income or background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A production facility for contemporary circus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ZQ27 not only supports regular classes but also the professional circus scene. Artists need high ceilings, rigging, practice time, technical infrastructure, a workshop, and performance venues. It is precisely this combination that makes the new Zirkusquartier unique. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where productions are created, companies rehearse, and up-and-coming artists and professionals learn from one another\u2014and where audiences experience contemporary circus up close.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Cie. Ginger Moustache performing \u201cParole en l’air\u201d during their guest performance at the Zirkusquartier in Zurich at the ZirQus 2024 Festival; photo by Kira Kynd <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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\u201cThe circus is so much more than sawdust and popcorn. Cultural forms and genres are wondrously interwoven, transporting us to an incomparable universe. Fascinating, poetic, accessible, and inclusive: a performing art for everyone. With the Zirkusquartier Z\u00fcrich, the modern circus arts now have a home of their own. This will further spur the development of this art form. And that\u2019s wonderful.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-SchneiderFederal Department of Home Affairs<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Help make the new Zirkusquartier a reality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Part of the funding has already been secured. We are looking for additional partners, foundations, companies, and private individuals to help cover the full cost of equipment and programs at the new location. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically, your donation makes the following possible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n