Last year, Finnish circus groups were once again a common sight at outdoor events across the country. Finnish companies also performed extensively at circus events throughout Europe.
Nearly half a million people saw Finnish circus performances last year, with a total of nearly 2 000 shows.
Circus performances were widely seen on streets and market squares as well as at various outdoor events. Circus groups working without state subsidies were particularly successful in this regard, with their performance calendars filled with free outdoor performances in 2024.
For groups that do not receive government funding, the proportion of free admissions compared to ticket sales is at nearly 80%, while for groups that receive government subsidies, the majority of audience members have purchased tickets to the performances.
The big outdoor events in Europe are a big deal for Finnish circus
Circus production and performance structures in Finland are still limited and the outdoor performance season is short due to the northern climate. Therefore, Finnish circus companies and artists are touring the world. Large outdoor events in Europe attract large audiences for Finnish circus companies: of all the audience visits recorded in 2024, approximately 185 000 – nearly 40% – were abroad.
Most of the performances abroad took place in France, Germany, and Sweden. In addition to European countries, the companies performed in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
Performing arts require a lot of staff
Performances cannot be created and enjoyed without artists, designers, producers, and technical staff. As a result, salary costs make up half of circus companies’ yearly budget, even though wages in the industry are very low.
State funding for circus arts was less than two million Euros in total in 2024 – a small amount compared to funding for other art forms in Finland.