Beyond the Arena: Organisational Ethnography of Contemporary Circus in Central and Eastern Europe

2025-2028, National Science Centre, Poland; Project no. 2024/55/D/HS4/02884

Circus artists describe their activities as those of a traditional circus or a new circus, but in any case they are creators of the contemporary circus. A circus is about more than artistry—it is also about management, education, pedagogy, the popularisation of knowledge, games, contests and community building.

  • What is the modern circus?
  • What are the stories of circus people?
  • What does circus art need to fully delight us?