Supporting the creation of Australian circus

Under Construction

Under Construction supports emerging and established circus and physical theatre artists living in Australia to develop innovative new work with the support of Circus Centre Melbourne and Flying Fruit Fly Circus.

Under Construction is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.

Each residency receives:

Two weeks access to agreed space and equipment at Flying Fruit Fly Circus or Circus Centre Melbourne
Advice, feedback and mentorship from the FFFC or CCM team
$5,000 cash towards expenses, and in-kind support of up to $5,000
Access and inclusion support during the residency or to provide access to the work-in-progress showing

Residencies in Albury also receive:

Free accommodation in our Circus House (4 bedrooms), a five minute walk away, subject to negotiation of dates
Basic technical support for a work-in-progress showing in the Borderville Theatre.

What We Ask in Return

A contribution to our FFFC/CCM community and young artists through skills sharing, knowledge and experience
One informal showing or artists talk about your work to the FFFC/CCM community (staff, students and invited guests) during your residency, or a ticketed performance if in Albury*
Your positive, creative energy

*Ticketed performances will be on a door split agreement, with a $500 guarantee to the artist.

Who Can Apply

Albury: Under Construction is open to individuals or groups living in Australia with an independent arts practice in circus or physical theatre.

Melbourne: Under Construction is open to individuals or groups living in Victoria with an independent arts practice in circus or physical theatre.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed on:

The idea (is it interesting, innovative, bold?)
The proposed use of time for creative development
The track record and/or quality of the artists involved
The benefit of the residency to the advancement of your project and/or careers
The future potential of the project

We will also ask you to provide artist bios and links to past work as part of your application.

Residency Details & Conditions

Our current round will be for residencies between 27 July and 30 October 2026. All residencies in this round must be completed by 30 October 2026.
Dates are flexible and scheduled based on the applicants’ and venue availability.
Occasional space changes may occur depending on technical requirements
Applicants must provide current Public Liability Insurance to cover all artists on site.
If applying for a residency based in Albury a Working With Children Checks (WWCC) will be required.
In Albury, accommodation is shared (two-bedroom units with kitchen, lounge, bathroom).
If selected for a Flying Fruit Fly Circus based residency, prepare to coordinate travel to Albury.

Under Construction 2026 July to Dec_Information Pack

Timeline

Applications Open: 28th of January 2026

Applications Close: 5pm on Wednesday, 11 February 2026.

Applicants will be notified of assessment outcomes by Monday, 23 February 2026.

How to Apply

Applications will open on the 28th of January 2026 and the application form will be available on this webpage.

If you are unwell or experience an unexpected interruption that means you will not be able to meet the closing deadline, please get in touch to discuss an extension.

Access and Support
We encourage anyone who needs specific services, support or would like to discuss how they can fully engage with the application process or residency program to contact us on
02 6043 0777 or email residencies@fruitflycircus.com.au

This includes those who may need an alternative to the linked application form below (eg.
word document application) or 1:1 support to complete the form.

Applicants are encouraged to talk through their applications with us before submitting. We are available up to 5pm Monday 9 February. You can request a meeting (in person, by phone or Zoom) by emailing residencies@fruitflycircus.com.au

Applications now closed.