For more than 15 years, Stockholm’s Subtopia art center has been one of the central hubs for the contemporary Swedish circus arts—as well as a key player in helping the Nordic circus scene carve out its own niche. Speaking to CirkusInfo Sweden, Subtopia’s Artistic Director Kiki Muukkonen describes the work entailed in showcasing circus art in all its glory.

Located in Stockholm County, Sweden, Subtopia is a centre for art, culture, and social engagement. Subtopia’s main focus is on contemporary circus production and urban art, as well as film and media production, but they also work in a variety of art forms, such as music, dance, theatre, design, and more. As a production studio, Subtopia runs support functions for artists: a cultural incubator, a circus residency, artistic youth activities, and two open art walls for artists. In terms of circus, Subtopia hosts a large number of troupes and performers, international networks, and other key players in the circus industry. Subtopia’s focus is on developing infrastructure, supporting the creative and production processes, and working for both local and visiting circus performers, and they do so through residency programs, workshops, giving production advice, and participating in European development programs. The first Swedish venue dedicated to presenting bo...