Akademia Sztukmistrzów

The Akademia Sztukmistrzów is a contemporary circus school located in Lublin, in eastern Poland. It is run by the Fundacja Sztukmistrze , a cultural foundation committed to teaching, artistic creation and the promotion of new circus arts.

The school welcomes children, teenagers, adults and families. It offers weekly classes, open training sessions and workshops allowing participants to discover or deepen their knowledge of different circus disciplines.

A school founded on circus pedagogy

The teaching at Akademia Sztukmistrzów is based on an educational approach that combines technical learning, artistic expression, and personal development.

The foundation considers the circus as an educational tool to develop coordination, perseverance, creativity and self-confidence.

Participants progress at their own pace, without a system of competition or imposed performance targets.

Group work also plays an important role. Students learn to help each other, to communicate, and to respect each other's abilities.

Courses for children and teenagers

The school offers groups adapted to different ages, including children aged 5 to 7 and 8 to 10, as well as activities for teenagers.

The youngest children discover circus arts through motor games, balance exercises and introductions to juggling.

As they grow older, students can further develop their skills in acrobatics, object manipulation, and aerial disciplines.

The teaching combines technical exercises and creative activities in order to maintain the enjoyment of practicing.

Juggling and object manipulation

Juggling is one of the important disciplines at the school.

Participants learn to manipulate different accessories, coordinate their movements and gradually build sequences.

Activities may include balls, diabolo, poi and other manipulative objects.

Juggling is used both as an artistic discipline and as a tool for developing concentration, patience, and coordination.

The balance disciplines

The Akademia Sztukmistrzów also offers balance and equilibrium exercises.

Participants can discover unicycling and slacklining through workshops and training sessions.

These disciplines help develop posture, body control, and the ability to adjust one's movements.

They also provide opportunities to learn how to manage difficulties and progress step by step.

Aerial acrobatics

Aerial acrobatics plays an important role in the school's curriculum.

Courses are offered on aerial silks, hoop and trapeze, depending on the groups and periods.

Students learn to hang, climb, control their positions and gradually perform tricks.

The teaching combines physical preparation, technique and safety.

Groups are offered for children, teenagers and adults, with levels adapted to beginners and more experienced practitioners.

Acrobatics in pairs and handstands

The school also develops duo acrobatics activities, in which participants learn to perform collective figures.

These exercises require coordination, communication, and mutual trust.

Hand balance classes, on the other hand, allow you to work on strength, body alignment and control of your balance.

Specialized internships regularly supplement the regular courses.

Activities for families

The foundation offers family circus workshops allowing children to practice with their parents.

These sessions combine physical games, balance exercises and the discovery of circus accessories.

They allow participants to share a creative activity while developing motor skills and relationships between participants.

Family programs include groups for children aged 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 accompanied by an adult.

Open training sessions for adults

The Akademia Sztukmistrzów also organizes open training sessions for adults and young people from the age of 16, under certain conditions.

These meetings allow participants to practice several circus disciplines in a collective setting.

Participants can use the available equipment and benefit from the presence of supervisors.

The sessions encourage exchanges between beginners, experienced amateurs and artists.

Teachers trained in circus pedagogy

The teaching team brings together artists and speakers specializing in different disciplines.

Several teachers have completed the European CATE training program, dedicated to teaching circus arts.

Their skills include juggling, aerial acrobatics, duo acrobatics, unicycling and balancing.

The school places particular emphasis on safety, adapting exercises, and providing individual support.

Shows and creative projects

The Akademia Sztukmistrzów encourages participants to also discover the stage dimension of circus arts.

The foundation organizes presentations of acts, shows and artistic encounters.

Students can thus discover how to transform their technical learning into artistic proposals.

These experiences help develop stage presence, creativity, and teamwork.

A foundation active in contemporary circus

Beyond its school, the Fundacja Sztukmistrze actively participates in the cultural life of Lublin.

It organizes shows, events, international exchanges and artistic projects dedicated to the new circus.

It is notably associated with the Cyrkulacje contemporary circus festival, which contributes to the dissemination of circus creations in Central and Eastern Europe.

The foundation also develops interventions in schools, cultural centers and public events.

A social and educational dimension

Circus arts training is seen as a way to strengthen physical skills, but also relational and emotional skills.

The workshops encourage perseverance, autonomy, cooperation and confidence.

The foundation also uses circus pedagogy in educational and social projects aimed at diverse audiences.

This approach makes circus arts accessible beyond just practitioners wishing to develop an artistic technique.

The Akademia Sztukmistrzów is distinguished by the diversity of its disciplines, its commitment to circus pedagogy, and its close ties with contemporary creation. It is an important school for the discovery and practice of circus arts in Lublin.

• City: Lublin, Poland
• Administrative address: ul. Biskupińska 81/2, 20-830 Lublin
• Telephone: +48 732 064 906
• Email: warsztaty@sztukmistrze.pl
• Official website: https://sztukmistrze.pl/