Who Should Apply

• Young Adults ages 18-26 who have prior training in circus arts and live and have permission to work in the United States
• The mentorship program is intended to serve as an alternative for those who do not have access to attend a college circus program, or for whom a college circus program is not the best path, who want to continue learning and developing professionally
• This program can be used as a supplement to enrollment in a traditional university.  If a participant has access through their school for independent study, the mentorship program would be prepared to work with that institution for a participant to receive credits
• A primary goal of the Young Adult Circus Arts Mentorship Program is to help participants find a balance in their circus training and professional preparation with their work, school, and life commitments, whatever they may be
• This program specifically aims to meet the needs of those seeking work as professional performers.  While there are MANY amazing ways to be a professional in the circus arts field apart from performing, those on other paths will not have their specific passions and goals addressed

The Young Adult Circus Arts Mentorship Program is open and welcoming to all people.  Our hope is that participants feel supported and safe whatever their race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or socio-economic background.  If you have any questions or concerns about if you qualify for the program or your ability to participate, please reach out to us directly. 

What is Expected

• Once accepted into the program, participants will need to sign an agreement to participate and pay the participation fee
• Attending weekly meetings every Tuesday 8:00-10:00pm Eastern with as much consistency as possible.  These meetings will include each of the following monthly:
  • Webinar with professionals in the field on the professional development project of the month
  • Mentor time to address needs and questions of participants, either as a group or one-on-one which participants may choose to sign up for based on their own needs
  • Act creation progress review with feedback from peers, mentor, circus coaches, and circus professionals
  • Review of the month’s professional development project
• Completing all professional development projects throughout the year including producing:
  • Artist’s statement
  • Costume and Makeup Design
  • Resume and CV
  • Performer photographs and video reel
  • Performer website that expresses the performer’s brand through all of the above elements 
  • Sample business tools including: accounting/bookkeeping system, grant writing, and contracts 
• Completing monthly videos of act development and uploading them for feedback
  • Several times in the year participants will be asked to peer-review each other’s progress
• Participants should have access to the internet for all webinars and meetings and to a device to record and upload their act progress monthly with
• Traveling to and performing in the culminating performance, to be attended by circus industry professionals and the public*

* Due to the current health crisis, we are unable to confirm the date and location of this performance for August of 2021.  We expect it to be held in at venue in the Northeast.  Ample time will be given to participants to plan and prepare

Cost to Participate

A primary goal of this program is accessibility to all.  To this end, we have kept our participation fees as low as possible.  We aim to be open and honest about the financial burden of the program so that participants know what to expect.  Throughout the program we will continue that culture of open honest discussions of the economics of our industry. 

• The participation fee for the Young Adult Circus Arts Mentorship Program is $360 for the year.  There will not be scholarships available to cover this cost.  We are set up to receive payments digitally through credit card, paypall, or venmo.  If you do not have access to these forms of payment, please let us know and we can arrange for other payment forms.
• It is important to invest in your professional tools, and for professionals to pay professionals.  It is estimated that participants will have an average of $400 worth of additional cost per month.  This includes**:
  • Paying for rehearsal/studio space ~ $100/moth
  • Professional costume ~ $400
  • Professional makeup ~ $200  
  • Professional photographer ~$500
  • Professional videographer ~$500
  • Professional web designer ~$1,000
  • Other training needs ~varies 
• Participants MUST own their own equipment to perform with/on.  This expense will vary based on what you do.  We are happy to recommend suppliers/fabricators to work with.  Be aware that you will also need to be able to store and transport your equipment, which can have a financial impact with larger, heavier apparatus. 
• Participants will need to be able to cover the cost of travel and lodging for the final performance.  

The Young Adult Circus Arts Mentorship Program may be able to help cover some of these costs for participants who cannot afford them.  We ask that you are honest in your application about what you needs might be so we are best prepared to help meet them.  Participants are also welcome to apply for funding and grants to cover these costs, such as the CSAW Microgrant which is awarding $1000 to a circus student of color each month to help cover the cost associated with their training.  

**All costs are estimates, and may vary widely by where you are in the country and who you choose to work with

What Participants Get

• Access to your mentor throughout the program and after it is completed
• Access to professionals in circus supporting and circus adjacent fields
• Guidance and feedback through the development of professional tools
• Guidance and feedback through the development if professional acts
• An opportunity to present your work to the circus community and the public at large
• A community of young adult circus practitioners with shared experiences to continue to build, develop, and create with long past your time participating in the program
• A certificate of completion of the program

Please note, this is not an accredited program and will not offer a degree.