Mike Moloney Award
For Young People in Circus
Circusful is excited to announce that applications for the Mike Moloney Award for young people in circus are now open!
This award aims to support young people, based in Northern Ireland, aged 16-30 who want to develop their Circus Arts/Street Theatre performance and/or related circus practice. Additional Support will be provided to those who have disabilities.
This award reflects Mike Moloney's passion for Circus and Street Theatre and his work with young people.
In 2013 we said goodbye to Mike, one of the two founders of Belfast Community Circus School, now known as Circusful, an inspiration to many and a true advocate for circus.
For almost 30 years, Mike supported artists to develop, established and developed the first circus family in Northern Ireland. We have held onto Mike’s understanding of the power of circus, his sense of fun and imagination in our new mission, brand and values.
Mike’s understanding of the power of circus was clear from an early age. He combined this with his experience of being a theatre/street performer and teacher and supported BCCS to achieve international recognition as a ‘frontier circus.’
Outside of circus, Mike was the first Executive Director of the Prison Arts Foundation (PAF) in Northern Ireland.
This award is designed to help you to change and/or improve your Circus/Street Theatre practice and/or performance.
For instance, an award could be used to help you to:
create new work
learn new skills that will help you to develop your performance/teaching/producing work.
gain inspiration from other artists or organisations.
You could spend the award on formal or informal courses, mentoring, coaching, supervision, research and cultural/research visits or other similar things that will help you to achieve the impact you describe in your project plan.
How much is the award?
Individual awards range from £500 to £5,000 – Micro Awards and Larger Awards
Depending on the quality of applications received, the decision-making panel may choose to make a number of small awards or one larger award.
If you would like to apply please follow this link and fill in the form -
Mike Moloney Award For Young People in Circus
Before filling in the application form, please read through the Guidance Notes - Guidance Notes
Please note:
Projects may only take place (on any dates) between 1st February 2025 and 31st August 2025 to be eligible. If you provide dates outside this period, your application will be ineligible.
Deadline for applying is 13th January 2025 at 5pm. If you have any questions or issues please contact awards@circusful.org
This award is funded by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
and supported by In Your Space Circus, Tumble Circus and Streetwise Community Circus.
Logos to download:
