US Circus School’s Show Faces Crisis After Sudden NEA Grant Withdrawal
Less than a month before opening night, Circadium: School of Contemporary Circus has been dealt a devastating blow. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has rescinded its $15,000 grant earmarked for the school’s 2025 end-of-year production, The Garden of Earthly Delights, under the direction of celebrated French director Daniel Gulko. The performance, a capstone project created and performed by the school’s graduating class, is slated to premiere May 30–31 as part of the Philadelphia Contemporary Circus Festival.
The grant—approved months ago—was critical to the production’s funding. Its abrupt cancellation came without warning. According to a statement from the NEA, the decision is part of a larger policy shift in response to new federal priorities: “The NEA is updating its grantmaking policy priorities to focus funding on projects that reflect the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President. Consequently, we are terminating awards that fall outside these new priorities.”
The timing and rationale behind the decision have left the Circadium community stunned. Students have spent months developing the piece—training, creating, and rehearsing—for what was meant to be the culmination of their three years at the nation’s only accredited higher education institution for circus arts. The show is more than a performance; it is a launchpad for these artists’ careers and a statement of the school’s commitment to innovation in the circus arts.
“This is more than a financial setback,” says Shana Kennedy, Executive Director of Circadium. “It’s a blow to the idea that bold, interdisciplinary performance belongs in the American cultural landscape.”
Circadium is now urgently seeking alternative funding to ensure the production goes forward. The school is calling on its community and supporters to help close the gap—by spreading the word, attending the show, or making a donation.
Despite the setback, Circadium’s resolve remains firm. “This community has always stood together in the face of challenges,” Kennedy adds. “And we are not giving up now.”
For more information or to support the production, visit Circadium’s website.
Main image: Circadium Gala. Photo is courtesy of Circadium Contemporary Circus School.
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