Le Sirque – National Circus Center in Nexon

The Sirque

Le Sirque, located in Nexon , Haute-Vienne , is a National Circus Center dedicated to the creation, dissemination, and transmission of contemporary circus arts. Inheriting a circus tradition that began in Nexon in 1987 with Annie Fratellini , it offers, among other things, amateur workshops for children and teenagers focusing on acrobatics, juggling, balancing, object manipulation, and artistic expression. Le Sirque also hosts artists in residence, develops numerous arts and cultural education projects, and organizes shows, workshops, and events, including the Multi-Pistes festival.

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Le Sirque is a National Circus Center located in Nexon, Haute-Vienne, in the heart of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region . Much more than a circus school, it is a true hub dedicated to contemporary circus arts, bringing together amateur practice, training, professional creation, artist residencies, performances, and cultural activities. Nexon has a long-standing relationship with circus arts: the history of circus education in the area dates back to 1987 and Annie Fratellini , making the center a particularly prominent location in the French circus scene.

Passing on the circus arts plays a significant role in Sirque's activities. Weekly workshops allow children and teenagers aged 5 to 17 to discover the circus or continue their training. The workshops are open to both beginners and young people who have already practiced circus arts or other physical and artistic disciplines such as gymnastics, dance, or theater.

The work done throughout the year can culminate in a public performance at the Workshop Festival . This presentation allows young circus artists to discover another essential dimension of the circus: that of the stage and the interaction with the audience. Technical skills are then developed through real acts and collaborative creations.

In parallel, Le Sirque carries out significant artistic and cultural education work in schools. Projects are developed with primary, middle, and high schools to allow students to practice circus arts, attend shows, meet artists, and discover the history and different aesthetics of contemporary circus.

In Nexon, this initiative is part of a partnership with the Arsène-Bonneaud middle school, allowing students to benefit from regular practice. Acrobatics, juggling, balancing, and aerial disciplines can thus be explored, with particular attention paid to interaction between young people and professional artists hosted in the area.

Le Sirque also develops initiatives to make circus arts accessible to a wide range of audiences. In particular , adapted circus projects are offered to people with disabilities or specific needs. Circus practice then becomes a tool for developing body awareness, confidence, autonomy, interpersonal skills, and personal growth. Projects can also be developed in partnership with various educational and social organizations.

One of Sirque's defining characteristics is the close connection between teaching, amateur practice, and professional creation. As a National Circus Center, the organization supports artists and companies throughout their creative processes. Artistic teams are welcomed to Nexon to work, experiment, research, and develop new shows.

These artist residencies transform the site into a vibrant space where circus arts are not only practiced but also invented. The organized meetings with the artists give practitioners, school groups, and the general public the opportunity to discover the behind-the-scenes aspects of creation and the diversity of contemporary circus, extending beyond mere technical mastery of the apparatus.

Le Sirque is also a performance venue that hosts shows and organizes various events for the public throughout the year. Its activities help introduce companies, artists, and new forms of circus arts to the residents of Nexon, the Haute-Vienne department, and the wider Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Among its flagship events is Multi-Pistes , the festival held in Nexon, which brings together shows, artists, and audiences in a festive atmosphere.

• Amateur practice school
• Place of transmission
• Professional residence and creation space
• Performance venue
• Cultural player in the region

Through its workshops, training courses, school projects, outreach programs, residencies, and artistic programming, Le Sirque contributes to the vitality and evolution of contemporary circus arts in Haute-Vienne. Located in Nexon, it provides a meeting place for children, teenagers, amateurs, professional artists, and spectators, where circus is simultaneously a physical activity, a learning experience, a means of expression, and a living art form.