Congratulations Katarzyna for winning the 2019 Richard Award

Thank you to all our five finalists for The Richard Award #2, 2019.

Helena Berry

Hester Cross

Katarzyna Jastrzebska

Lee Keenor

Dani Mearns

The Richard Award for Circus Arts

The Award was created in 2018 as an event to honour Richard Ward, founder of Britain’s first professional circus school and to celebrate the depth and breadth of circus creativity emerging from Bristol’s rich circus training heritage. 

The Richard Award

The Richard Award is open to emerging artists who have completed professional training in any circus discipline, in Bristol between 2014 and 2019. Professional training could include: further education, higher education, apprenticeships or on-the-job training.

The Shortlisting Panel.

The shortlisting panel of comprises industry professionals will view and review all applicants’ submissions and choose the acts which will progress to the live final. All shortlisted acts will perform at the Richard Award final at Circomedia (Portland Square) on Saturday November 16th to an audience which includes industry employers, agents, managers and bookers as well as the general public.  The shortlisting panel includes students and teachers from Fool Time, practising artists, choreographers and circus directors.

The Finalist Panel.

A panel of four will be present at the live final and will deliberate on the night choosing the overall winner. For this year’s award we are proud to have the expert eyes and ears of: Billy Alwen (Cirque Bijou), Verena Cornwall (CircusNext), Eloise Currie (winner of 2018 Richard Award) and Jade Dunbar (Glastonbury Circus Big Top).

We are very grateful for the help and expertise of all our panel members.

Interviews with the 2018 finalists

Interview with Audrey and Helen; two of the organisers of The Richard Award

Hear from 2018’s winner about her experience over the past 12 months