named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Artist First Residency
Mentorship program supporting emerging circus artists in developing and presenting new work, with resources tailored to individual needs.
Behind The Curtain
Digital series featuring interviews with artists and post-show viewing links, providing insight into performances and creative processes.
Circus Lab
Collaborative initiative with regional arts organizations to support artist residencies, youth education, exhibitions, and new interdisciplinary work culminating in World Circus Day celebrations.
Circus in the Park
Annual public festival in Prospect Park, Troy, featuring circus performances, interactive activities, and family-friendly entertainment. Includes free public access and ticketed reserved seating.
SHAC Summer Circus & Physical Theater Camp
Summer program for ages 7–17 offering instruction in aerial and ground circus arts, movement, and creative expression across multiple themed weekly sessions.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Experimental Circus and Immersive Theater Production 4 activities
- Commissions and develops new contemporary circus worksCommissions original circus productions, such as a 60-minute retelling of Rapunzel developed during a 12-day residency, supporting artistic innovation and new narrative forms in contemporary circus.
- Hosts interactive pre-show and public engagement eventsProvides live circus arts entertainment and interactive engagement in public spaces such as lobbies and parks, including pre-performance activations and hands-on workshops to broaden audience participation.
- Leads Circus Lab regional initiative for artist development and interdisciplinary creationRuns Circus Lab, a regional program that supports artist residencies, develops new interdisciplinary performance works, and includes training in corporeal mime, modern dance, and physical theater across multiple Capital Region venues.
- Produces and presents contemporary circus and immersive arts performancesCreates and stages original contemporary circus works, including full-length productions such as "Rapunzel" and digital performances like A.Lone, presented at venues including The Egg in Albany and streamed online. These performances integrate theatrical storytelling, physical theater, and circus techniques.
-
-
Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Operates artist residency and mentorship programsRuns the Artist First Creation Residency, a long-term mentorship initiative that provides resources, space, and support for emerging circus artists to develop and present new work.
-
-
Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Organizes annual public circus festivals and community eventsHosts large-scale public events such as Circus in the Park in Troy and World Circus Day at The Egg, featuring free performances, interactive activities, flying trapeze instruction, and family-friendly entertainment to engage broad community audiences.
-
-
Performing Arts Archival Preservation 1 activity
- Preserves circus and physical theater heritage through archival workMaintains the Archive of Living Circus & Physical Theater to document and preserve the historical knowledge, practices, and legacy of contemporary circus and physical performance.
-
-
Ballet and Dance Education Programs 1 activity
- Provides advanced training in physical theater and movement disciplinesOffers advanced-level instruction in corporeal mime, modern dance, choreography, and physical theater through dedicated training programs and workshops for emerging artists.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operates youth and adult circus education and training programsOffers structured skill-based training and camps for youth and adults, including summer camps, spring camps, five-week programs, and daily classes at locations like Prospect Park and the Bethlehem YMCA, covering aerial silks, juggling, hoop, and ground-based techniques.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$154K
Contributions & grants$137K89%
Program service revenue$17K11%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$112K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$68K
Cash$58K
Investments$0
Liabilities$927
Net assets$67K
Liquid reserves6.2 mo
3 years on record · 2021–2023 · YoY revenue +1.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 8
- BARB NELSON — SECRETARY/TR
- BOB THAYER — DIRECTOR
- CHARLES BATSON — DIRECTOR
- JESSICA LUBIN — DIRECTOR
- JOHN HUGHES — DIRECTOR
- KEVIN SAGE — DIRECTOR
- KYLE ENGSTROM — DIRECTOR
- OWEN BUSH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Arts Letters & Numbers Partner — Co-commissioned a contemporary circus retelling of Rapunzel with The Big Top Group.
- Bethlehem YMCA Partner — Hosts Circus Gym programming at its facility in Delmar, NY.
- Mt. Ida Preservation Association Partner — Co-commissioned a contemporary circus retelling of Rapunzel with The Big Top Group.
- NY Circus Project Partner — Collaborates on delivering an immersive choreography workshop in contemporary circus and physical theatre.
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provided $10,000 Regrowth and Capacity grant for recovery and artist compensation.
- Sean Fagan | Circus Theatricks Partner — Collaborates as director and choreographer for the Wake Up and Circus! program.
- The Big Top Group Partner — Administrative and organizational partner for the KoMotion Fellowship, hosting program information and communications.
- The Big Top Group Partner — Co-presents and operates the SHAC Summer Circus & Physical Theater Camp.
- The Egg Partner — Co-presents the New York Circus Project performance of "Rapunzel" in Albany, NY.
- The Egg Partner — Hosts the annual World Circus Day celebration as part of the Circus Lab initiative.
- Westchester Circus Arts Partner — Collaborates to offer kids circus camp and educational programming in ground and aerial circus arts.
- iTheatre Saratoga Partner — Collaborated on the return performance of "Oh, Garçon" in December 2022.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Embodied Pedagogy Rooted in Artistic Lineagemethodology: embodied_pedagogyBy grounding instruction in a codified movement vocabulary developed through decades of artistic collaboration and lineage-based practices like corporeal mime and modern dance, the organization transmits technical rigor and expressive depth, because embodied learning connects physical mastery to artistic meaning.
- Ensemble-Based Creation for Original Performancemethodology: ensemble_creationBy using ensemble-based creation methods that integrate movement, storytelling, and circus technique, the organization fosters collaborative development of original performance works, because collective authorship deepens artistic innovation and strengthens performer investment.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration to Expand Expressive Boundariesmethodology: interdisciplinary_collaborationBy supporting interdisciplinary artists and collaborative creation, the organization expands audience understanding of circus as a contemporary expressive art form, because cross-artform integration challenges conventions and broadens artistic relevance.
- Progressive Skill Development Through Repeatable, Flexible Programmingmethodology: progressive-skill-buildingBy structuring circus arts education around flexible, repeatable weekly sessions and progressive curricula, the organization enables sustained skill-building and confidence development across varying commitment levels, because accessible, incremental learning supports long-term engagement and self-efficacy.
- Thematic and Effort-Based Learning to Foster Youth Confidencemethodology: thematic learning integrationBy organizing youth programming around thematic frameworks and prioritizing effort over achievement, the organization builds self-esteem through creative risk-taking, because narrative integration and recognition of process—not just performance—support psychological safety and growth.