NICA

FEDEC member since 2007

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is Australia’s centre of excellence in contemporary circus.

Under the auspices of Swinburne University of Technology (soon to transition to the Australian College of the Arts - Collarts) in Melbourne, NICA is the only government- funded institution that provides accredited training in contemporary circus arts in Australia.

Each year over 60 young people apply to study at NICA’s custom-built and award- winning facility.

NICA’s captivating performances provide accessible entertainment of the highest calibre and consistently appeal to a large number of general public audiences.

NICA is supported by the Australian Government through the Federal Office of the Arts and is one of the eight members of the Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence (Arts8), providing unique and high-level training for emerging artists.

NICA artists have performed in the opening and closing Commonwealth Games ceremonies and have won awards for Australia in prestigious international festivals in Wuhan (China), Paris and Moscow.

NICA Graduates

Graduates and selected professionals are represented by NICA Represents, Australia’s leading agency for professional circus performers. Graduates are employed by major circuses both internationally and within Australia. A number of graduates form their own new innovative circus companies.

Other courses offered by NICA include a range of recreational short courses and school holiday programs.

NICA has Deductible Gift Recipient Status (DGR) and donations to NICA are tax deductible.

Training offered

• BA-CIRCA1 Bachelor of Circus Arts: equips students with the skills, experience, network, and knowledge to establish a professional career on the world stage of circus and physical theatre. It is the highest level of accredited circus training in the southern hemisphere and receives global recognition for its exceptional delivery of experiential, immersive, practice, and performance-based studies in contemporary circus arts. Public-facing performances are integrated into the curriculum, in which students collaborate with local and international directors.

More info here or here.

• 10824NAT Certificate IV in Circus Arts: provides an introductory experience into high performance circus arts training, and will equip students with the knowledge and skills to enter preliminary level circus and physical theatre, and to audition for the Bachelor of Circus Arts.

More info here or here.

Admission

Entry into NICA requires an application via Swinburne University of Technology page - followed by audition, interview and medical assessment.

Bachelor of Circus Arts

• Prerequisite: The successful completion of Year 12 or equivalent is the minimum required educational qualification.
• International students need to meet the minimum English language and academic requirements for this course. For more information on approved English tests and entry scores check “Entry Requirements | International Students | Swinburne University | Melbourne, Australia”. NICA encourages applications from young people with backgrounds in areas such as circus, sports acrobatics, trampolining, diving, performing arts, dance, martial arts, gymnastics, extreme sport, street theatre or physical theatre.

Certificate IV in Circus Arts

• Prerequisite: The successful completion of Year 12 or equivalent is the minimum required educational qualification. International students need to meet the minimum English language and academic requirements.

Auditions are held in September and October for the following school year. Applications forms, dates and venues details are available on NICA website. Applicants who cannot travel to audition venues can apply by online video audition.

NICA has an Audition Skills Guide video to help future students to apply and audition for 2024 entry into Certificate IV in Circus Arts.

Further information can be found via:

• NICA website,
• Joining our prospective students mailing list,
• Contacting NICA directly via e-mail or phone: auditions@nica.com.au // +61 3 9214 6975

Learn about this member

Founded in 2001

Management

Director: Simona Jobbagy

Teaching language

Standard English 

Location

National Institute for Circus Arts – NICA
39-59 Green Street
Prahran VIC 3181
Australia