The Circus Hub
The Circus Hub, also known as the Wellington Circus Trust, is a charitable trust [1] and circus school in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, New Zealand.
It specialises in teaching both ground-skill and aerial-based circus arts [2][3] to adults and children, as well as hosting community events [4][5][6] , showcases[7] , and performances. [8][9][10]
History
Founded in 2005 [11] by Jenny Ritchie, Alice Capper-Starr, and Eileen McNaughton, [12] The Circus Hub's vision and mission continues to be inspiring passion for circus arts, and facilitating the growth of the professional and recreational circus sectors.[13]
Since 2012, the Hub has been based in the Te Whaea complex [14] in Newtown.
In 2015, the Circus Hub secured the contract to run polytech Whitireia’s Circus-Dance course [15]. But due to Covid, low enrollments, and cuts to funding in the Arts sector, the course was shutdown in 2019. [16]
In 2025, the Circus Hub joined ANZCA's 'Elevating Circus Arts for Rangatahi in Aotearoa' initiative [17] - a two-year project, funded by SportNZ, to help co-design and fund a proposal to support Rangatahi in engaging in active recreation through circus.
The Hub also debuted their Rucksack Circus initiative, a free family-friendly circus show, at Newtown Festival [18], and CubaDupa [19]
Partnerships
In 2024, the Hub partnered with Inverted Citizens to host 'Circus in the Gardens' at the Wellington Botanic Gardens [20]
The Circus Hub has been a member of ANZCA (Aotearoa New Zealand Circus Association) since 2016, and remains an active member[21].
As one of their product and services partners[22], The Circus Hub provides training facilities for World of Wearable Art's (WOW) aerial performers.
The Circus Hub continues to be a long-standing venue partner for Wellington Fringe [23][24][25][26]
Additionally, the Hub has a relationship with Imogen Stone, Youth Circus graduate, WOW aerialist [27], and her fellow Colossal co-creative directors, Zane and Degge Jarvie [28][29][30][31][32], hosting their 2014 Fringe show 'How to Universe' [33], as well as their 'Dream Garden' show in 2025. [34]
The Circus Hub has received several funding grants from WCC (Wellington City Council)[35][36], including support for the Hub's involvement in Newtown Festival 2025[37]. The Hub is also listed as a bookable creative space through their Aho Tini 2030, Arts Culture and Creativity Strategy[38].
In September 2026, the Hub was involved as a charity partner in Volunteer Wellington's Community Film Challenge.[39][40]
References
- ↑ "Charities Services | Home". register.charities.govt.nz. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "Circus Skills". thecircushub. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ MCCONNELL, RHIANNON (2016-01-20). "Wellington IT man runs away with the circus". Stuff. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ Flightdec. "The Circus Hub Open Day". Arts & Culture In Wellington. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
- ↑ www.eventfinda.co.nz https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/kids-disco/wellington. Retrieved 2026-09-30. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ www.eventfinda.co.nz https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/the-circus-hub-film-fundraiser-the-sheep-detectives/wellington. Retrieved 2026-09-30. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "Raw Circus". Theatreview. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "Pandora". Theatreview. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
- ↑ www.eventfinda.co.nz https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/feign-nz-fringe-festival/wellington. Retrieved 2026-10-01. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "Circus Schools and Flow Organisations". Fire and Flow NZ. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ Aotearoa, RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o (2025-09-17). "Soaring ambitions: Wellington's circus school marks 20 years with big plans". RNZ. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Carter, Sammy (2025-10-28). "How The Circus Hub survived 20 years on the tightrope of creative arts finances". The Spinoff. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
- ↑ "About The Circus Hub". thecircushub. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "About Us". Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ WANNAN, OLIVIA (2015-01-20). "Whitireia Polytechnic circus course opens up a world of work". Stuff. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
- ↑ Long, Jessica (2018-10-13). "Circus school students out in the cold after cuts to Whitireia performing arts course". Stuff. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
- ↑ "Elevating Circus Arts For Rangatahi – Aotearoa New Zealand Circus Association". Retrieved 2026-09-30.
- ↑ "Rucksack Circus - Newtown festival". www.newtownfestival.org.nz. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
- ↑ "CubaDupa Unveils Full Lineup for 28–29 March 2026". Muzic.NZ. 2026-01-29. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
- ↑ www.eventfinda.co.nz https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2024/circus-in-the-gardens/wellington. Retrieved 2026-10-01. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ ANZCA. "The Circus Hub – Aotearoa New Zealand Circus Association". Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ "WOW Partners & Collaborators". www.worldofwearableart.com. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
- ↑ "FEIGN". Theatreview. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "Pandora". Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "Venues – Fringe Festival". Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "How To Universe". Theatreview. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ Agents, PME Entertainment. "Imogen Stone - Aerial Circus and Variety Artist - Wellington". PME Entertainment Agents. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "About | COLOSSAL". 2025-12-18. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "Why Circus?". thecircushub. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "Street performers: Imogen Stone and Zane and Degge Jarvie". www.regionalnews.kiwi. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ MCKEE, HANNAH (2014-01-09). "More air time for talented trio". Stuff. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "ZINIO". www.zinio.com. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "'How to Universe' premiers in Wellington | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ www.eventfinda.co.nz https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/dream-garden/wellington. Retrieved 2026-10-01. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ James, Steph (3rd September 2025). "PĪTAU PŪMANAWA - GRANTS SUBCOMMITTEE". Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Agnew, David (16 September 2026). "TE MATAAHO O TE HAPORI - GRANTS SUBCOMMITTEE".
- ↑ "Newtown Festival 2025". thecircushub. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ "Creative spaces". Wellington City Council. 2025-05-09. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "Community Film | Volunteer Wellington". volunteerwellington.nz. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ Volunteer Wellington (2026-10-06). Team Sweden | The Circus Hub. Retrieved 2026-10-07 – via YouTube.
This article "The Circus Hub" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:The Circus Hub. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
