Two festivals to celebrate the contemporary circus
The BIAC – the Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque – and the Entre2 BIAC are the two flagship events organized by Archaos.
Supported by a diverse range of public institutions and in partnership with cultural organizations in the Aix-Marseille Provence metro area and the Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, in less than ten years these festivals have become essential events for audiences and professionals alike. They provide a showcase for the breadth and diversity of contemporary circus arts.
The BIAC – Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque
Created in 2015 by Archaos, the BIAC – International Circus Arts Biennial – is held in odd-numbered years,. For one month, between January and February, it rolls out a wide-ranging program in collaboration with around 50 cultural organizations in the Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Each partner contributes to the co-construction of the festival and pools resources to make it an ambitious, unifying, and unique event.
For each edition of the festival, BIAC has hosted more than sixty shows, including numerous new productions for a total of nearly 300 performances across the territory. BIAC is also a highlight for hundreds of international circus and performing arts professionals. The festival includes the Professional Forum, an event that brings together programmers, artists, and institutions from around the world, making the biennial an essential hub for circus arts creation.
The Entre2 BIAC
To maintain its connection with the public and ensure the contemporary circus has a strong presence each year, Archaos created the Entre2 BIAC in 2016. This festival takes place in even-numbered years and is also held between January and February. The Entre2 BIAC is organized in collaboration with our partners in the Aix Marseille metro area.
A more intimate but equally ambitious festival, Entre2 BIAC is an opportunity for Archaos to present a program of circus events in its own venue. During this festival, the spotlight is on arts and cultural education initiatives, through performances, workshops related to the shows, and sessions dedicated to schoolchildren. These are all powerful moments that bring the venue to life while demonstrating to the public the diversity and scope of our initiatives.
Archaos, national circus center in Marseille
Founded over three decades ago and certified as a national circus center under the official “Pôle National Cirque” program since 2012, Archaos is committed to promoting contemporary circus arts and making sure it is recognised as one of most innovative art forms to emerge in the past half century.
To support of creativity and the circus arts, Archaos hosts residencies and co-produces numerous companies throughout the year. Most of these artists and shows go on to be programmed at the BIAC or Entre2 BIAC. Archaos also supports contemporary circus professionals by offering continuing education courses, individualized support, and a training space available on a daily basis. Internationally, Archaos promotes the mobility and visibility of companies by organizing meetings with international programmers.
At 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, community, and medical-social organizations…).
Plus d’informations archaos.fr 
