The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is buzzing with fresh energy as it welcomes its newest intake of Bachelor of Circus Arts students for 2025. This cohort, drawn from across Australia and New Zealand, represents a diverse range of foundational training, hailing from institutions like the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Byron Bay Circus Arts, and Wellington Youth Circus.
NICA's Bachelor of Circus Arts degree, a unique offering in Australia, continues to attract aspiring acrobats, dancers, and gymnasts. Students like Shayla Ashton, who relocated from Wellington, NZ, after completing NICA's Certificate IV, are finding the Bachelor program both challenging and rewarding. “It is a big step up from the Certificate IV and a lot more challenging than I was expecting, but it’s great because we are pushing ourselves and seeing improvement,” says Ashton.
Tarnee Doyle from Mandurah, WA, echoes the intensity of the training, stating, “The training is as difficult as I was expecting it to be, I’d spent the months leading up mentally preparing for this.” Gabe Douglas from Byron Bay, NSW, expresses his enthusiasm, “It is a dream come true to come to NICA – I am so grateful to be here.”
From her vantage point overlooking the training floor, NICA CEO Simona Jobbagy observes, "It’s inspiring to see NICA buzzing with new talent, full of ambition and potential.” This surge of activity coincides with NICA's recent partnership with the Australian College of The Arts (Collarts), established in December 2024.
Collarts CEO Sam Jacob highlights the collaborative potential, stating, "This collaboration strengthens opportunities for emerging circus artists, ensuring they receive world-class training and support. With a dynamic new board in place, we’re excited to see NICA thrive and continue its legacy of excellence in performance and innovation."
In further developments, NICA has announced a new board, bringing together expertise from across the arts and governance sectors. The board members are:
- Bill Sweeney – Director & Interim Chair (Executive Chairman, Collarts)
- Sam Jacob – Director (Chief Executive Officer, Collarts)
- Collette Brennan – Director (Chief Executive Officer, National Trust)
- Darcy Grant – Director (Artistic Director, Gravity & Other Myths)
- Jonathan Burke – Director (Official Secretary, Office of the Governor (Victoria))
- Jill Smith AM – Director (Australian Government nominee)
- Peter Barnard – Secretary (Quality & Compliance Manager, Collarts)
NICA has expressed its gratitude to the outgoing board for their dedication and service.
Looking ahead, NICA has released its performance and event schedule for 2025, marking a significant period of activity:
- June 17 – 28: NICA's Third Year Ensemble performance.
- Early September: Auditions for the 2026 Bachelor's degree and Certificate IV intake.
- October 8 – 10: The Australian Circus Summit 'Out of Lines'.
- December 9 – 13: Third Year Showcase.
These events promise to showcase the talent nurtured at NICA and contribute to the ongoing development of the Australian circus industry.
Find out more at the NICA website.