Revamp bid Circus firm fears being pushed out of city
ABRISTOL circus company could leave the city if it can’t find a new home. Development plans for St Philips Marsh means Invisible Circus has to move out before the end of the year.
It has rented Unit 15 on Sussex Street but Premier Business Park is being demolished to make way for student accommodation and a supermarket.
New owner Dominus Real Estate, bought the industrial estate at the end of 2022. The area is part of the Temple Quarter regeneration zone and is expected to undergo a huge transformation with the arrival of a new Bristol University campus next to Temple Meads station in the next few years.
Invisible Circus hopes it can find a new location close to the city centre, but given its requirements, particularly for those practising acrobatics, it says this could be a challenge.
Director of the Invisible Circus, Wim Penhaul, said: “Our current situation is part of a far bigger picture. The loss of spaces like these will have a notable impact on the city’s cultural landscape, with many independent organisations being edged out of our central location to the outskirts (or outside of Bristol entirely).
“What makes Bristol so attractive is its diverse, accessible, rich cultural offering, and so it is important to start meaningful conversations about managing the cultural cost of the city’s economic growth.”
Nick Green, senior manager for combined arts and individuals at Arts Council England, added: “The Invisible Circus has been an essential part of the culture of Bristol and the South West for over a decade, creating extraordinary shows, supporting artists and providing the spark that has ignited Bristol as a centre for contemporary circus.
“Their work in locating, renovating and transforming empty buildings has created a culture of enterprise and innovation in the city and supported hundreds of artists and creative practitioners.”
Principal director at Dominus, Jay Ahluwalia, said: “We are committed to supporting Invisible Circus through any potential relocation, by providing funding of property agent support and additional consultancy. We will continue to provide assistance to ensure any move is sensitively managed.”
Unit 15 Creation Space is recognised within the circus industry locally and internationally, as a highly-equipped training space for professional performance artists and companies and has more than 200 registered members. The company runs Project 345 on the same site, which hosts 16 affordable creative studios.