We are excited to present the Flemish delegation at the International Market for Contemporary Circus (MICC), an event produced by La TOHU (Montreal). This four-day professional gathering runs parallel to the Montréal Complètement Cirque (MCC) festival and brings together 350 professionals from 28 different countries each year. This year, the MICC's professional program will focus on various regions, including Flanders and Catalonia. The program includes pitch sessions, showcase displays, networking activities, in-depth sessions on specific themes, and guided tours of Cirque du Soleil and the National Circus School. As a conclusion to the "Opening New Markets for Circus Arts" project, Circuscentrum will attend the MICC with a Flemish delegation. This is the first time Circuscentrum will be present at the MICC with a Flemish delegation. Meet the passionate professionals representing the Flemish circus sector at MICC below!

More info about the delegation

MICC, the only professional market dedicated to circus arts in North America, invites companies and artists to submit their project for the Pitch Session during the 2025 Annual Market.

The International Market of Contemporary Circus (MICC), produced by La TOHU (Montréal, Québec, Canada), brings together a global community of professionals committed to the creation, presentation, and touring of contemporary circus in North America and beyond—year-round online and every July in Montréal.

Selected projects from this call will have the opportunity to pitch their work to more than one hundred international presenters—a unique chance to expand touring opportunities and increase visibility.

Artists based in Flanders/Brussels selected through this MICC call will join the Flemish delegation traveling to MICC and will receive financial support through the project ‘Opening New Markets for Circus Arts’ .

Deadline: March 7, 2025
Open to all nationalities

As part of the project ‘Opening New Markets for the Circus Arts’, you’ll hear a number of experiences about touring overseas. Confirmed speakers: Aaron Marquise (la TOHU, Canada), Francis Julien (FLIP Fabrique, Canada), Stijn Grupping (Post uit Hessdalen, Flanders), and Patrick De Groote (Zomer van Antwerpen, Flanders). Read the article 'Focus Canada: Technicians with braces and expensive containers from Europe' written by Liv Laveyne on the gathering and discover 7 recommendations for touring overseas.

As part of this project, an online ‘Tour de Piste’ toolk place on 17 December 2024 at 16:00 CET (10:00 EST) . During these online project presentations, programmers or anyone interested could discover nine artists or companies (three per region), selected by an international jury. This session was open only to programmers and the selected companies.

Selected companies

• Surface tension | Company To X For (USA)
• Minty Fresh Circus | Minty Fresh Circus (USA)
• Boombox |Keeping Company (USA/Belgium)
• Productions à l’écart |Simon et le temps perdu (Canada)
• La Croustade | La Bagatelle du Roi des Miettes (Canada)
• Département des retours | Les soeurs kif-kif (Canada)
• Sono io ? | Circus Ronaldo (Belgium/Flanders)
• Ripple | TeaTime Company (Belgium/Flanders)
• BITBYBIT | MOVEDBYMATTER & Collectif Malunés (Belgium/Flanders)

discover the catalogue with the selected projects

On 2 October 2024 at 16:00 CET, the Opening New Markets for Circus Arts project was launched with a virtual info session. A total of 38 professionals from Canada, the United States and Flanders participated in the online project launch. During launch, the project was introduced and the project partners Circuscentrum MICC, En Piste and American Circus Alliance gave an introduction to how their organisations operate. The recording of the project launch can be re-watched.
In the coming months, a number of further online meeting moments will be organised where relevant themes for the three regions will be discussed in more detail. Stay tuned!

OPEN CALL: TOUR DE PISTE

As part of the international cooperation project “Opening New Markets for Circus Arts”, the International Circus Market for Contemporary Circus(MICC), Circuscentrum, En Piste, and the American Circus Alliance are pleased to invite all companies based in Canada, Flanders, and the United States to submit their artistic proposals to the online pitch session which concerns indoor and outdoor creations.

The purpose of this call is to highlight the diversity of circus arts produced in Canada, Flanders and the United States. It aims to position the circus arts as a dynamic economic and cultural force between these regions, while promoting companies in different countries and stimulating the mobility of artists.

The project presentations will enable 9 artists or companies (3 per region) selected by an international jury to present their works to programmers, agents and circus professionals from the three regions.

Eligibility

• Submitting a project is free of charge. However, current membership in MICC, En Piste, ACA, or being part of the Circuscentrum network is required.
• Only productions from the following regions will be admitted: Canada, Flanders and the United States.
• Professional circus companies with previous touring experience and tour-ready projects are eligible.
• Only one project per company can be selected.
• Both indoor and outdoor circus productions must be at least 35 minutes long.
  Individual artists will be considered if they regularly tour complete circus works.

Selection criteria

An international selection committee evaluates proposals based on the following criteria:

• Artistic quality: quality of the proposal, experience and background of the artist/company.
• Feasibility/Touring potential: demonstration of touring ability (using touring history and/or other indicators); and/or ability to adapt to different venues, spaces, and/or circumstances; and/or suitability for particular markets.
• Originality: a production that makes an original contribution to contemporary circus and the performing arts, and/or demonstrates the continued relevance of contemporary circus in these changing times.
• Region: Only projects based in Canada, Flanders and the USA will be considered.

REGISTRATION

• These presentation sessions will virtually take place on December 17 at 10 :00 2024 EST
• Application deadline: October 31, 2024, at 5pm EST
• Response date: November 15, 2024
• Project presentation date: December 17, 2024

Please note that if your project is selected, the information provided in the submission form will be included in a PDF file distributed to all participants. We invite you to carefully check spelling and all information specific to your project before submitting.

Open Call: Presentations at TOHU and the MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE Festival in Montreal

About TOHU

TOHU, located at the heart of the Cité des arts du cirque, is a space for creation, experimentation, and the intersection of culture, environment, and community engagement.

A unique venue in North America, TOHU’s 360-degree circular hall, deeply rooted in circus tradition, provides a platform for exceptional shows and original creations. Standing 22.45 metres tall with a diameter of 40 metres, TOHU can accommodate up to 1,200 spectators. Its flexible design, featuring a 13-metre ring, allows the space to adapt to various productions, meeting the specific needs of each show.

MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE is a lively festival offering a wide-ranging circus programme across the city every year. From the first Thursday in July, Montréal bursts into life with circus, transforming theatres, streets, parks, and sidewalks into stages for colourful performances from around the world. Founded in 2010, the festival is the result of a collective vision. TOHU, the driving force behind the project, joined forces with Cirque Éloize, Les 7 doigts de la main, Cirque du Soleil, the National Circus School, and En Piste to combine expertise and resources, establishing the first international circus festival in North America.

What are they looking for?

They are seeking contemporary circus productions that:

• Innovatively use the space: Projects that fully exploit TOHU’s versatile environment, such as bi-frontal, semi-circular staging, 360-degree presentation, or immersive installations.
• Demonstrate artistic ambition: Productions that push artistic boundaries, challenging and inspiring both artists and audiences with fresh, bold perspectives.
• Consider feasibility: Projects that can realistically be executed within TOHU’s facilities and resources, with a clear plan for technical and logistical requirements.
• Innovate in audience engagement: Proposals that foster a strong connection with audiences through interactive elements, multi-sensory experiences, or non-traditional seating arrangements.
• Fit the bill: Established or emerging companies, artists, and collectives with experience in international programming. This may include new or existing projects, provided they are ready for presentation in upcoming seasons and festivals.

Note: Productions currently on tour in more traditional formats that can be adapted for TOHU are also welcome to apply.

How to apply?

Interested parties are invited to complete the application form and submit a detailed proposal in PDF format, including:

• A project description explaining how the production will uniquely utilise TOHU’s space.
• Visuals or design concepts (e.g., sketches, renderings) that illustrate the proposed use of the space.
• Information on the creative team and previous productions.
• Technical requirements, including the number of artists and crew members needed, and any specific staging considerations.
  

Submission deadline:

All applications must be submitted by 31 October 2024.

They eagerly await innovative projects that will bring TOHU’s space to life.

Application and contact

For questions or additional information, please contact the Associate Director of Circus Arts Programming and Development, Aaron Marquise, at aaron.marquise@tohu.ca