BEYOND OUR BOUNDARIES | 超越界限
We’re excited to announce an upcoming opportunity for passionate and committed youth circus artists to take part in an International Exchange Program, facilitated by the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA).
Youth Circus International Exchange Program
This immersive program will run from October 2025 to November 2026 and is designed to foster global connections, artistic development, and cultural exchange with the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe and the Shanghai Circus School. Participating students will engage in workshops and collaborative activities both on-campus at NICA (Melbourne, Australia) and overseas in China (Shanghai and Nanjing).
Program Highlights:
- Intensive circus workshops at NICA led by members of the Shanghai Circus School during the Australian Circus Summit (6 - 10 October 2025).
- Travel to China on a circus-based cultural exchange, training and learning from Chinese youth and trainers in July 2026.
- Collaborative performance projects and cultural activities in November 2026.
- Build lifelong friendships and networks with circus students abroad.
*events in 2026 align with school holiday breaks.
More Information Here
Snapshot: our exchange to China
Our participants along with three NICA trainers travelled to China on the 22 June 2026 to begin their exchange and training program at the Shanghai Acrobatic School. They were delighted to be welcomed into the school, and gained a wealth of new experiences and friendships.
Coming up next:
In November, the delegation of students from the Shanghai Circus School will travel to Australia to train at NICA. The Chinese and Australian students will create a circus show together, and perform as part of NICA's 25th Anniversary celebration.
This project is supported by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, which has awarded Beyond Our Boundaries a 2024–2025 grant. Their support makes possible a reciprocal professional exchange between the National Institute of Circus Arts and the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, building on a legacy of collaboration since the 1980s, and continues to strengthen people-to-people links through cultural exchange.
