Circusbende was founded in 2018 by Do Verschragen, Chiva Bons and Tamar Bruls. What started as a spontaneous inspiration has grown into an annual festival that attracts 15,000 visitors.
Circusbende focuses on developing new circus as a multidisciplinary genre, with a strong artistic and social consciousness. Under the motto 'radical accessibility', the festival strives to make cultural participation more accessible.
Every summer the team works hard together to build the festival, carrying out tasks such as painting signposts and washing dishes together. The team, consisting of twenty coordinators, works in the spirit of traditional circus culture: everyone helps where necessary. Everything is made by hand, from signage to checkout booths, promoting a strong DIY culture in public spaces.
In 2022, Chiva and Do got their long-awaited office and workshop at Het Groene Veld. Their love for experimental circus is shared by the team, which has now been expanded with Lida, Toa, Liselotte and Phaidra. The festival attracts thousands of visitors, 200 volunteers and 70 artists every year. Circusbende brings magic, absurdism and joy, and has been nominated for the Amsterdam Prize for Art. In 2024 they will organize one of the festival weekends at Het Groene Veld for the first time
> website Circusbende
