Mike Moloney Award

For Young People in Circus

We are excited to announce that applications for the Mike Moloney Award for young people in circus are now open!

This award aims to support young people, based in Northern Ireland, aged 16-25 who want to develop their Circus Arts/Street Theatre performance and/or related circus practice. Additional Support will be provided to those who have disabilities.

This award reflects Mike Moloney's passion for Circus and Street Theatre and his work with young people.

In 2013 we said goodbye to Mike, one of the founders of Belfast Community Circus School, an inspiration to many and a true advocate for circus.

For almost 30 years, Mike supported artists to develop, established and developed the first circus family in Northern Ireland. We have held onto Mike’s understanding of the power of circus, his sense of fun and imagination in our new mission, brand and values.

Mike’s understanding of the power of circus was clear from an early age. He combined this with his experience of being a theatre/street performer and teacher and supported BCCS to achieve international recognition as a ‘frontier circus.’

Outside of circus, Mike was the first Executive Director of the Prison Arts Foundation (PAF) in Northern Ireland.

This award is designed to help you to change and/or improve your Circus/Street Theatre practice and/or performance.

For instance, an award could be used to help you to:

  • create new work 

  • learn new skills that will help you to develop your performance/teaching/producing work. 

  • gain inspiration from other artists or organisations.  

  • You could spend the award on formal or informal courses, mentoring, coaching, supervision, research and cultural/research visits or other similar things that will help you to achieve the impact you describe in your project plan. 

How much is the award?

  • It is anticipated that there will be 5 awards of £1000 each, with promotion of the awards in both the east of the province (3 awards) and the northwest (2 awards) to encourage participation across Northern Ireland, and where it can be supported by circus schools in each region - Belfast Circus and In Your Space Circus.

  • Depending on the quality of applications received, the decision-making panel may choose to make a number of small awards or one larger award. 

If you would like to apply please follow this link and fill in the form -

(new form will go here)

Before filling in the application form, please read through the Guidance Notes - Guidance Notes

Please note:

Deadline for applying is 28th September 2026 at 5pm. If you have any questions or issues please contact hello@belfastcircus.com

This award is funded by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

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