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Social circus might sound like fun but for Frances Kelliher it's a serious enterprise with unlimited potential for growth. After 15 years of experience, The Circability Trust co-director turned to ART Venture to focus on the bigger picture to make strategic decisions.

In the first interview in a series profiling ART Venture alumni, Frances tells us how the creative business acceleration programme helped her create a new social enterprise concept for the senior circus market in New Zealand.

The call is out now for entrepreneurial people working in Auckland’s creative sector to put forward an Expression of Interest to join ART Venture in 2016. See more details below.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative work
  
I have a B.Comm but also travelled and studied various visual arts. In 2000 I married the director of Circus Fantasia in Germany and discovered the art of juggling and clown. I have been in the social circus arena for 15 years helping set up Circus Kumarani and Circability.
  
What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?

Now with age, the creative process and development of others excites me most.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?
  
Keep doing good work. We don’t always find the support we need so need to trust the world to catch up with us one day and keep producing as best we can. 

You are an established creative entrepreneur so why did you need a business development programme? 
    
Circability is relatively new, with limited resources and unlimited potential. I needed time to focus on the bigger picture and help to make some strategic decisions about where we focus our energy.

As a result of being on ART Venture:

• I’ve gained: An administrator to do the business and current leadership skills to allow me to run the business.
• I’ve worked with: Specialists who understand the creative sector.
• I’ve connected with: An amazing network of creative entrepreneurs - my ART Venture Whanau have been one of the biggest bonuses of the programme.
• I’ve built: A new social enterprise concept that will support Circability’s social work.
• I’ve contributed: To the development of the Aotearoa New Zealand Circus Association.

What has been the enduring impact - professional and personally?

The ART Venture year has been about exploring new ideas and studying possibilities. Now that it's finished the actual work of building on these ideas can begin.

Why would you recommend other creative entrepreneurs apply for ART Venture?

ART Venture is a holistic programme that finds the support you need and gives you a new creative Whanau to help you on your journey.

What’s your big idea for 2016?
 
Circability is developing a new brand for its social enterprise which is developing corporate team building packages and scoping the senior circus market in New Zealand. Watch this space!

About Frances Kelliher

Frances Kelliher co-directs the Circability Trust with her partner Thomas Hinz. Together they have 30 years experience delivering social circus programmes in Germany and New Zealand. They have received a number of awards in recognition of their social work e.g. the 2013 Arts Access Aotearoa Community Partnership Award for their show Circolina’s Leap. Circability has a community lease on the former Campbell Free Kindergarten in Victoria Park, Auckland which they run in partnership with Hohepa Auckland and Toi Ora Live Arts.

Frances and Thomas are passionate about the development of the circus sector. They initiated two year research ‘Developing Community Circus in Aotearoa New Zealand’ conducted by Rachael Trotman and funded by the Lottery Community Sector Research Fund. They have presented the research at the 'Culture has Impact’ Social Circus Conference in Tampere, Finland, and the Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association Circus Futures Forum in Melbourne. Circability partner with the Blingling Brothers to host biannual Auckland Circus Conventions, which aim to educate, entertain and elevate the circus community. Frances is Chairperson of the newly formed Aotearoa New Zealand Circus Association. 

About ART Venture

ART Venture is for entrepreneurial practitioners, producers and leaders who are serious about accelerating their skills, projects, organisations and businesses, while also contributing significantly to Auckland through their creative talent, public-good focus and business innovation. 

Now in its seventh year, the programme is an initiative of Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-iwi (ART) with delivery partner, The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui. 

ART Venture Expressions of Interest for participating in the 2016 programme are open now and close on Wednesday 24 February 2016, 5pm. 

Experience A Taste of ART Venture to find out if it’s for you on Monday, 15 February 2016, 5.30 – 8.30pm at Q Theatre, Auckland.