What We Do

What We Do

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is Australia's Centre of Excellence in contemporary circus.

NICA is a national not-for-profit organisation. Funded primarily by the Australian Government through the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts NICA is auspiced by Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. As the only training institution of its kind in Australia, NICA provides professional training through a three year Bachelor of Circus Arts, preparing students from across Australia and the world for exciting careers in all facets of the circus industry. Competition for one of 24 places in the first year of the degree program is fierce and auditions are conducted in each state at the end of the year.

Click here to view a 1 minute video clip of NICA students in action.

NICA offers short courses for children, teenagers and adults, and supports the circus industry with professional development and master classes.

We also work with Australian Indigenous communities through outreach activities and partnerships.

CircaNICA is NICA’s commercial arm, operating as a production company and agency for circus artists and new circus works.

NICA continually aspires to:

Be a global centre of teaching excellence for professional training, innovation and creativity in cutting-edge, contemporary circus
Prepare Australian artists to meet the high market demand of the growing circus industry by creating employment here and overseas
Create new circus works and stimulate performance opportunities through CircaNICA
Continue to bring circus to the community

NICA's latest Annual Report (2009) is available.

Download the 2009 Annual Report
Download the 2008 Annual Report

Download the 2007 Annual Report