Calling all circus crew, performers, producers, riggers, designers, teachers and students - Join us for a Bristol Circus gathering!

We invite you to join us as we dive deeper into the future for circus in Bristol and dig into the findings of the 2026 Bristol Circus Census. 

Through workshops, conversations and creative exercises we set out our ambitions for circus in Bristol and shape our recommendations for Bristol City Council's new cultural strategy. 

This is also an opportunity to connect, network and share new ideas and challenges in our ‘Offers & Request’ section:

Do you have a project that you are working on that you would like to get feedback on? 

Do you have a challenge you are looking to solve or insight you can share? 

Or perhaps you have an idea you would like to get off the ground and want to find collaborators? 

Do please come prepared with an idea to share or discuss.

Tickets are free and include lunch & refreshments. 

Schedule:

10:30am: Coffees & arrival (30mins)

11:00am: Formal welcome, context and ice breaker (30mins)

11:30am: Section intro - looking at the details of the 4 subject areas of Space, Infrastructure, Performance Opportunities and Funding and Sustainability (45mins)

12:15pm: Group Table Discussions and feedback (30mins)

12:45pm: Shared Lunch (45mins)

1:40pm: Visual Mapping - strengths & opportunities (30mins)

2:00pm: Offers & Requests (30mins)

2:30pm: Networking (20mins)

2:50pm: Formal Closing & next steps

3:00pm: Finish*.

Freelancer Bursaries available - We know our community is made up of Freelancers and that taking time out to attend sector conversations takes up valuable time. To honour your time in attending and contributing to the Bristol-made Circus Gathering we have made 10 x £50 bursaries available for those on low incomes. These will be selected through a lottery process. If you would like to put yourself forward for one of these places please select the 'bursary lottery' ticket when you book to enter into the draw (outcome will be shared by Wednesday 10th June).

(*Please note this is an earlier finish time to previously advertised).

Supported by Bristol City Council - Artist Conversation Fund

Bristol artist image credits:
Jade England-Johns, The Swing of the Axe. Photo: Anna Barclay
Jen & LK, Don't Drop Me. Photo: Paul Blakemore
Oh no George!, Can't Sit Still. Photo: Paul Blakemore
Laura Murphy & Contra Productions, A Spectacle of Herself. Photo: Anna Barclay