About the Summit

'Out of Lines'

8 - 10 October 2025

Step into the future of circus at the 2025 Australian Circus Summit: three extraordinary days of conversation, collaboration, and connection, hosted at NICA’s purpose-built training centre in Melbourne/Naarm.

This global gathering invites artists, producers, presenters, academics, students, and sector leaders to explore the theme Out of Lines — an invitation to challenge assumptions, cross disciplines, and spark bold new thinking about the future of circus.

The Summit opens in partnership with CALS (Circus Arts and Life Sciences), a leading international research initiative that sits at the intersection of circus, movement science, and wellbeing. Together, we’ll unpack how evidence-informed approaches are reshaping training, pedagogy, and artist support. The CALS-led day will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, and practice-led provocations around topics such as:

  • The role of creativity in physical performance and recovery
  • Dramaturgy, costume design and symbolism in contemporary circus
  • Coaching language, communication, and the psychology of training
  • Mental health and perfectionism in circus cultures
  • The resurgence of animal metaphors in performance and storytelling

Across the full three-day program, expect a rich blend of panels, forums, keynote provocations, and pop-up performances, designed to break down industry silos and foster real-world partnerships. Topics will include:

  • Reimagining circus touring as ecological and reciprocal
  • Advocacy for circus in education and funding policy
  • Insurance, access, and the economics of being an artist today
  • Parenting in performance careers
  • The cultural future of youth and regional circus

This is an intimate, fully-catered event that places meaningful dialogue at its core, with opportunities to share space, stretch together (literally and metaphorically), and connect with colleagues from across Australia and around the world.

Join us as we stretch the limits of what circus is… and what it could become.

Early-bird tickets are on sale now.

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Program preview

DAY ONE

Wednesday 8 October


Circus meets research, science and radical ideas.

Presented in partnership with CALS (Circus Arts and Life Sciences), Day One dives into the evolving intersections between circus, health, pedagogy, and dramaturgy. Hear from international researchers, artists and sector leaders on topics ranging from coaching psychology and mental health to creative costuming and conservation storytelling. Expect thought-provoking panels, keynote presentations, performances, and the beginning of big conversations around the future of circus practice.


DAY TWO

Thursday 9 October


Defining identity, sustainability, and belonging in circus.

Day Two turns the spotlight toward the current state of the sector, with keynotes, student panels, and roundtable forums unpacking questions of identity, inclusion, advocacy, and the cost of being an artist today. Highlights include deep dives into youth circus, national policy, access and equity, and sustainable career pathways. This day also features Living Books: an informal, roaming library of lived experience where sector knowledge is exchanged through one-on-one conversations.


DAY THREE

Friday 10 October


Touring, parenting, policy...and what’s next.

Our final day looks ahead to the practical and philosophical future of circus. From new models of touring (think pollination, not just presentation) to the real pressures facing artist parents, we'll ask what structural shifts are needed for circus to thrive. With provocations on insurance, arts education, and inclusion, Day Three builds momentum toward tangible sector change, and closes with connection, reflection, and a few final surprises.

Speakers & full program announced soon!










FAQs

Here’s some questions you might have – but if you have others, reach out! connects@nica.com.au

Public Transport:
From Flinders Street Station take the Sandringham Line train to Windsor or Prahran Stations. The Number 6 Glen Iris Tram runs along Swanston Street. The closest stop is on the corner of High and Chapel Streets. Trams operate from 5.30am to 12.00pm midnight and with extended services available on Friday and Saturday nights. Visit metlinkmelbourne.com.au for timetable information.

Bike:
There are bike paths along Chapel Street. NICA has a bike rack next to it's entrance.

Car:
There is limited on street parking around NICA. However there are paid parking stations nearby.

Please respect our neighbours
If departing our venue late at night, please respect our neighbours and keep noise to a minimum. Please obey parking street signs and restrictions.

The roads around NICA have limited 1, 2 and 3 hour street parking. The nearest metered car park is on Union Street (131 - 133 Union Street, Windsor) and opposite the Windsor station on Chapel Street. The Prahran Square carpark is open 24 hours 30-40 Izett Street, Prahran.

If departing our venue late at night, please respect our neighbours and keep noise to a minimum. Please obey parking street signs and restrictions.

Yes! Entry on street level - entire space including entrance points, is wheelchair accessible. The only stairs in the building is the tiered seating in the NCC theatre. If you are using a wheelchair, a front row seat on ground level will be arranged - please let us know at the time of booking: info@nica.com.au  More information about NICA's building accessibility can be found here: https://www.nica.com.au/accessibility  

Absolutely. We understand, especially in this economy, that sometimes a 3-day commitment is too much. You can select a single day pass, or tune into the live stream with a digital ticket.

Yes! This was key feedback from 2023. We have built in networking, workshops and Q&As with the speakers. More connections for better tangible outcomes.

Not this time. We wanted everyone to access all topics and knowledge with the ticket, without having to choose or miss out on anything.

Yes! It’s included in your ticket. This is to help foster the networking opportunities in the hallways between sessions.Trust us, the time will fly by. 

We loved having Coffee Rider & Co with us last Summit, however, this year we are simplifying many elements to keep ticket prices more accessible. We will have tea and coffee urns available in the foyer (..we wouldn’t leave you completely un-caffeinated!)