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National Institute of Circus Arts

Coordinates: 37°51′10″S 144°59′29″E / 37.8529°S 144.9913°E / -37.8529; 144.9913
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National Institute of Circus Arts
NICA National Circus Centre, Melbourne
Other name
NICA
Established1995; 29 years ago (1995)
Parent institution
Swinburne University of Technology
Academic affiliation
Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence
Executive DirectorRose Stephens
Location, ,
Australia

37°51′10″S 144°59′29″E / 37.8529°S 144.9913°E / -37.8529; 144.9913
Websitewww.nica.com.au

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is a government-accredited tertiary-level circus school in Australia, located in Prahran, Victoria.

History

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NICA was established in 1995 by Swinburne University of Technology after a study revealed there was enough demand for a national body.[1] The first course, a Diploma of Circus Arts, began in 1999 with eight participants from an unrenovated warehouse at Docklands. In 2001, the first Bachelor of Circus Arts course was offered with 23 students entering the course and the first degrees being conferred in 2003.[2] In 2005, tit moved into the new $10 million NICA National Circus Centre at the Prahran campus of Swinburne University, funded by the Australian Government, Swinburne and the Pratt Foundation.[3]

Description

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NICA is the only government-accredited tertiary educational institution that provides professional training in contemporary circus arts in Australia.[4] It is a subsidiary of Swinburne University of Technology[2] and is based at the university's Prahran campus.

NICA is one of eight "national elite training organisations" of the "Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence" (ARTS8), partially funded by the Australian Government via the Office for the Arts.[5]

Courses

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The institute's core training offering is a three-year Bachelor of Circus Arts. It also offers a Diploma of Circus Arts, an Advanced Diploma of Circus Arts, and a number of workshops and short courses.[6]

In 2010, it offered a Certificate III in Circus Arts for students combining their circus training with their final two years of secondary school, with academic provider VCA Secondary School. It also offered Certificate IV in Circus Arts, a one-year program in basic Circus Skills, suitable for school-leavers (18 years or older).[7]

In 2011, there were 60 enrolled students.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Andrew Shaw (21 June 2011). "All aboard the Circus train". Evolution Publishing. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b "History of NICA". National Institute of Circus Arts. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Facilities". National Institute of Circus Arts. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  4. ^ "National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA)". FEDEC. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  5. ^ "National training organisations in the performing arts". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. Office for the Arts. Australian Government. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Bachelor of Circus Arts". National Institute of Circus Arts. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  7. ^ "NICA News - Winter/Spring 2009" (PDF). National Institute of Circus Arts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
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