Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Announces 15th Annual First of May Award

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus is now accepting submissions for the 15th Annual Bindlestiff First of May Award – a $500 to $2,000 development grant for live,  full-length circus and variety arts productions by NYC artists.

For 30 years, Bindlestiff Family Variety Arts, Inc. has been enriching New York City’s variety arts culture by producing and presenting unparalleled circus, sideshow and variety arts performances. Inaugurated in 2012, Bindlestiff’s First of May Award offers NYC-based circus and variety artists support for the development of an original, full-length production. Previous recipient productions include Clown Baggage, created by Matt Wilson; Unmasked, created and directed by Lady Aye and Mistress B; Solomon the Perplexer, created and written by Tanya Solomon and directed by Corn Mo; Wacky of Wallabazoo, created by Justin Weber; Dandy Darkly’s Trigger Happy; TruDee’s “Dances for Lovers” by Deborah Lohse; Kyle Driggs’ ENSO; Angelo Iodice’s Bronx cowboy memoir, Paris the Hip Hop Juggler’s juggling comedy show, Christopher Scheer’s [n]Gender, Loki Circus Theater‘s COLORED GRRLS; Brianna Kalish with {IN}TANGIBLE a circus play; Stav Meishar’s Barbette at the Circus: Performing Gender; Maia Ramnath’s The Conference of the Birds; Becca Bernard with The Fainting Room and Jeff Seal and Chris Manley with “Jeff and Buttons”. For a full list of First of May winners, see http://bindlestiff.org/firstofmay/

Submissions for the 2026 First of May Award will be evaluated by a panel of judges from diverse roles in the circus and variety arts community, including artists, circus arts educators, producers and presenters, performing arts venue representatives, and past First of May Award recipients. Submissions are ranked based on artistic merit, originality, and variety arts relevance. Other criteria taken into consideration include the quality of the proposal itself, the project’s impact (social, community, etc.), and its stage of development (with preference given to projects not previously presented).

Submission is now open for  solo artists or troupes wishing to apply for this year’s award. The deadline for both Bindlestiff’s First of May Award is April 1, 2026.  Selections will be announced on May 1, 2026. Detailed application guidelines are available at http://bindlestiff.org/firstofmay.

Submission guidelines for Bindlestiff’s First of May Award:

Projects should be new, original, full-length, live productions.

Proposals must include:

1. Project description (3,000 characters maximum)

2. 1-3 links to videos of past work

3. Resumés and/or bios of participating artists

Proposed productions must be at least 40 minutes in length.

Productions may be either solo or troupe-based projects.

NYC residency is required. If submitting as a solo artist, applicant must be a NYC resident. If submitting as a troupe, at least 50% of troupe members must be NYC residents.

By submitting a proposal for the First of May Award, applicants acknowledge that if the award is granted,

1) development of the proposed production must begin prior to June 30, 2027

2) a progress report is due by December 31, 2026

3) at least one public performance of the production must be presented in New York City before May 1, 2027 (a work in progress performance and/or segment of complete production is acceptable)

4) a final report is due by May 1, 2027

 If these requirements are not met, the award must be returned.

Deadline: Submissions must be received by 11:59pm on April 1, 2026

Proposals should be submitted via email to [email protected] or by using our submission form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBRTh56gxNTG0OJuj6EMLBjg5QKc6pGffvgtGsLyBl3dUVxw/viewform

The selected grantees will be announced on May 1, 2026

SUBMISSION FORMS:
Bindlestiff First of May Award: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBRTh56gxNTG0OJuj6EMLBjg5QKc6pGffvgtGsLyBl3dUVxw/viewform

Since 1995, Bindlestiff has brought world-class circus arts to every type of stage and audience imaginable. Its scope includes family shows, musical parodies, burlesque Cirkus spectacles and community celebrations. In addition to presenting and touring highest-quality professional performances, Bindlestiff also has an eye on the future, keeping the circus and variety arts alive via free circus arts educational programs in communities across NY State, NYC and on tour;  and emerging artist support in the circus sector. Bindlestiff’s performances on stages and festivals around the world have captivate dtens of  thousands at festivals, clubs, colleges and venues including Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer Hall (NYC), Glastonbury Festival (UK), Super Giant Carnival (Thailand) Golden Festival (China)  in Off Broadway theaters, and in neighborhoods of every borough of New York City with its free Bindlestiff  Flatbed Follies shows spectacles.

Bindlestiff Family Variety Arts, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, please visit www.bindlestiff.org or find us @bindlestiffcirkus on Facebook and Instagram

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