CIRCUS Ipswich has received a major boost from Arts Queensland, securing $100,000 through the Regional Community Arts Fund.
As the only recipient in the Ipswich region, the funding marks a significant milestone for the community circus, which has been self-funded and “bootstrapped” for nine years.
Director and Founder Meg Hooper shared the organisation’s journey, highlighting the challenges of building a sustainable community arts business from the ground up.
“Every improvement we’ve made, we’ve earned ourselves,” Dr Hooper said.
“This funding validates the hard work and shows a real belief in our ability to grow as an arts organisation.”
The investment will be used to enhance operations, refine programs, and introduce specialist classes.
“Our families have told us they want more specialist classes, and our advanced students want to focus on aerials, juggling, or other circus skills,” Dr Hooper said.
“This funding allows us to bring in expert trainers and expand our offerings in ways we never could before.”
Community remains at the heart of Circus Ipswich, with surveys of families showing a unanimous agreement that the circus is a place to belong, a value the organisation intends to preserve as it grows.
The funding is part of a major boost to regional artists with the State Government, which announced a new $1.6 million funding program to support volunteer-driven arts and cultural initiatives.
Under the new program, 17 organisations will receive two-year core funding of up to $50,000 per year to support paid staff and operational costs. A further 12 groups will be granted up to $20,000 for one-year arts projects.
The funding also opens doors for collaboration with local artists and community groups – a challenging goal in the past due to limited resources.
“We’re keen to partner within Ipswich,” Dr Hooper said. “This funding gives us the capacity to connect and collaborate in meaningful ways.”
Reflecting on a decade of growth, she said perseverance and community-building as key lessons.
“If you want to make change in a community, it doesn’t have to be big. Small things grow. Keep going, and people will gather around you,” she said.
Looking ahead, 2026 marks a landmark year for Circus Ipswich with the launch of its inaugural Ipswich Circus Festival on July 10-11 at the Ipswich Showgrounds.
The festival will showcase the best of circus arts and include a community day to welcome the wider Ipswich community while serving as vehicle for the organisation’s 10-year anniversary celebration in 2027
