Founded more than 30 years ago and certified as an official national circus center since 2012, Archaos is committed to promoting and supporting the contemporary circus arts. Its ambition is to establish this discipline as one of the most innovative forms of performance arts.
To support creation, Archaos hosts residencies throughout the year and co-produces numerous shows, most of which are programmed at the Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque (BIAC) or Entre2 BIAC festivals. Archaos also supports contemporary circus professionals by offering continuing education courses, individualized coaching, and a training spaces that are available daily. Internationally, Archaos promotes the mobility and visibility of companies by organizing meetings and events with international programmers.
On its site in Marseille, and more broadly across the South of France, Archaos encourages encounters between artists and the general public through a rich program of festivals, circus events, amateur workshops, and artistic and cultural education initiatives carried out with several partners (the French Ministry of Education, social, associative, and health care organizations).
Supporting artists in their creative endeavors: Archaos’ primary mission
Each season, Archaos hosts around 15 companies in residence. This gives artists the opportunity to conduct creative research in an environment conducive to artistic experimentation and to share their work with the public through residency events. The objectives can be varied:
• To create, develop, rehearse, or finalize a circus arts performance.
• To explore and experiment with new artistic forms or to further develop an approach.
• To share with the public during gatherings and residency events.
Are you a national or international company whose main creative discipline is the contemporary circus? Would you like to apply for our next call for residencies?
Visit us in December 2025 on archaos.fr/en
More information about our activities throughout the year at > archaos.fr/en
