A Milestone for Growth and Sustainability in Circus Arts Education

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is honoured to receive a significant grant of $750,000, awarded by The Ian Potter Foundation. This generous multi-year funding will play a pivotal role in strengthening NICA’s sustainable evolution and global leadership in contemporary circus arts training.

For over two decades, NICA has been Australia’s centre of excellence for tertiary circus education. From its beginnings in a humble warehouse in Melbourne’s Docklands in 1999 to becoming a world-recognised institution, NICA has nurtured generations of high-level circus artists and contributed to the development of circus as a respected artform nationally and internationally.

This investment from The Ian Potter Foundation will support NICA in fulfilling its mission to preserve and advance circus arts, enhancing pathways for students, educators and the broader circus sector while ensuring long-term institutional sustainability.

Strengthening International Connections and Professional Development

The grant will allow NICA to deepen its engagement with global circus communities by creating meaningful opportunities for students and staff to learn from international leaders in the field. This includes:

• Annual visits from international circus leaders and directors to work directly with students and teaching teams, providing exposure to diverse training methods and performance approaches that support industry readiness.

• International study tours for students offering immersive experiences at leading schools and large-scale shows overseas that enrich training and broaden artistic perspectives.

• Global professional development for staff including learning about the latest innovations in circus equipment, pedagogy and creative practice from Europe, Asia and the Americas.

• International performance opportunities for students and graduates helping emerging artists build global networks and access career opportunities at the highest level.

• Upgrades to specialised training facilities with investment in cutting-edge rigging, safety systems and performance spaces that enhance both student experience and industry innovation.

Investing in Sustainability and Future Generations

NICA’s role extends beyond delivering extraordinary circus training. As one of Australia’s high-performance Arts8 training organisations funded by the Australian Government through the Office for The Arts, NICA has a responsibility to support the longevity and sustainability of circus arts education in Australia.

This grant supports NICA’s strategic vision of sustainable growth, enabling the institute to maintain high standards of teaching, nurturing its global relevance and ensure future generations of performers are equipped to shape the world of contemporary circus.

Simona Jobbagy, CEO of NICA, said the funding is a “significant investment in NICA’s future, strengthening our ability to deliver world-class training by giving our students and staff meaningful access to international expertise, global opportunities and the latest technologies that ensure Australian circus remains innovative, connected and competitive on the world stage.”

We extend our sincere gratitude to The Ian Potter Foundation for supporting our vision for sustainability, excellence and global engagement. We look forward to the remarkable experiences this funding will unlock for students, educators and artists, and to the ongoing contribution NICA will make to the future of Australian circus.

About The Ian Potter Foundation
The Ian Potter Foundation is one of Australia’s major philanthropic foundations. The Foundation makes grants nationally to support charitable organisations working to benefit the community across a wide range of sectors including the arts, medical research, public health research, early childhood development, community wellbeing and environmental science. The Ian Potter Foundation aims to support and promote a fair, healthy, sustainable and vibrant Australia.

 Photo by Cameron Grant, Parenthesy from NICA's 2025 ensemble show PROTEUS.
 Featuring graduates Georgia Pozorski, Bridie Callahan and Sammy George.

Published 23 January 2026