Flipside Circus, Queensland’s largest youth arts company, is preparing to welcome more than 110,000 visitors a year after turning the first sod on its new circus centre at Northshore, Hamilton on Tuesday 29 June 2021.

The purpose-built facility in the vibrant new riverside precinct will become Queensland’s largest circus centre, training more than 55,000 participants, delivering programs to regional and remote communities, supporting circus performances, and attracting circus artists and companies from across Australia.

CEO and Creative Director Robert Kronk said Flipside Circus would continue to deliver classes and workshops from a pop-up circus space at 33 MacArthur Ave, Northshore until its new permanent home, only 900 metres away, is ready to welcome students in early 2022.

The Australian Government has invested $1M in the project through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development’s Community Development Grants Program.

Flipside Circus also received $290,000 through Arts Queensland’s Strategic Infrastructure Fund as well as ongoing support from Economic Development Queensland (EDQ).

Construction of Flipside Circus’s new home at 221 MacArthur Ave will create an estimated 48 jobs during construction and more than 25 jobs once complete.

“The Australian Government’s $1M investment made the entire project possible and paved the way for us to serve our community’s needs on a larger, permanent scale,” Mr Kronk said.

Federal Member for Brisbane Trevor Evans MP said a dedicated contemporary home for circus will give Queensland circus and young artists the space they need to train, create new work, and take on the world.

“I’m very proud to have supported the creation of this wonderful new home for Flipside Circus. Circus arts is one of Brisbane’s recognised specialities and unique offerings in the arts, both nationally and internationally,” Mr Evans said.

“Funding from the Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland, enabled us to push the project further and add additional features to the space to make it ready for circus,” Mr Kronk said.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the new facility signalled the next stage for Flipside’s development as a leading Queensland arts company.

“This is an exciting milestone for Flipside Circus with the new infrastructure set to be a huge boost for young Queensland performers and the wider community,” Minister Enoch said.

“The Palaszczuk Government is investing $290,000 through the $22.5 million Arts and Cultural Recovery package for first stage construction of this unique circus space to support professional circus artists, communities, training and create jobs.

“Funding for this innovative new space is in addition to the Palaszczuk Government’s investment of  $100,000 this year through Arts Queensland’s Organisations Fund to support the company’s operations, and a further $124,100 provided to Flipside Circus under our Arts and Cultural Recovery Package.

“Since 1998 Flipside Circus has been ‘unthinking the impossible’ and our Government is helping Flipside Circus’ to take their new project from the ‘impossible’ to possible.

“The arts is key to delivering our plan for economic recovery, each year contributing  $8.5 billion into the state’s economy and supporting more than 92,000 Queenslanders,” Ms Enoch said.

“Our community of participants, artists, families and neighbours, will be able to watch the progress of our new home, and get involved as it takes shape,” Mr Kronk said.

“We are witnessing the Northshore precinct evolve and grow, becoming a creative and entrepreneurial hub and it’s amazing to be a part of that.”

“Flipside’s mission is to empower communities through circus and as a not-for-profit organisation, we re-invest 100 per cent of our revenue into realising this mission so we are grateful for the support of EDQ in securing a non-commercial lease for our new school.

“Our partners have given us the freedom and power to make our own space: a modular, custom facility using shipping containers that ‘is’ circus, both in form and function.

“We are excited about creating a building that is a performative sculpture and the synergy of bringing shipping containers back to an old shipping port.”

Mr Kronk said additional community, corporate and government support was sought to complete the school’s second stage of development in 2022.

“A state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility enables us to be masters of our own destiny, to grow and serve our community, provide us with long-term sustainability and provide arts experience to children and young people of all backgrounds and means.

“We urge people to help support this great initiative for the Brisbane community and head to www.flipsidecircus.org.au/building-appeal/ to donate, he said.”

Flipside Circus delivers as industry-leading class schedule for children as young as three, school holiday workshops, training for adults, regional and remote touring programs, artistic programs and performances and social circus/all abilities workshop programs.

Northshore is Queensland’s largest waterfront urban renewal project with the 304-hectare precinct transforming from an old wharf into a vibrant waterfront hub over 20 years.

Register for classes at flipsidecircus.org.au

Flipside Circus is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.