ABOUT NECCA

NECCA is people. Our founders, coaches, board, staff, students and community all shape NECCA in as many different ways as there are talented individuals who walk through these doors. NECCA is also an internationally recognized circus school known for outstanding creative and physical programming. Here, we are committed to providing access to circus arts instruction to anyone who is interested in what circus has to offer them—from the absolute beginner to the industry professional. We pride ourselves in providing this instruction in a welcoming and non-competitive atmosphere with a staff of coaches who make this art form as approachable as it is entertaining. Simply said, we love what we do and we welcome you to find out what NECCA can offer you!

We’d like to take a moment to share our gratitude both to the generous supporters who made this possible and to the Abenaki Tribe, whose traditional land we stand on and who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.

Many Thanks To

The New England Center for Circus Arts is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts through the New England Arts Resilience Fund, part of the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund, an initiative of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with major funding from the federal CARES Act from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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OUR HISTORY

2007
Founding of NECCA
NECCA is founded by Elsie Smith and Serenity Smith Forchion and receives its 501(c)(3) status as a nonprofit circus arts education facility. For several years previous to this, circus arts instruction was provided under the name of Nimble Arts. Elsie and Serenity felt it was vital for the students and the community for NECCA to take this next step and grow into a nonprofit. Classes were taught with a staff of approximately 10 coaches at the Cotton Mill and the New England Youth Theater in Brattleboro, VT. The original Professional Track or “ProTrack” program began in 2007 as well, beginning NECCA’s reputation of successfully preparing professional circus artists for careers in circus.
2010
NECCA Expands
NECCA expands into 3 studios at the Cotton Mill and establishes an additional professional program, the Intensive Program, designed to meet the growing needs of the industry. This year also brought the first annual Flying Nut holiday show as well as the Circus In The Neighborhood outreach program established to bring circus to those who otherwise wouldn’t have access to NECCA programming. This was also the first year of the Circus Spectacular: an annual fundraising event at the Latchis Theater aimed at raising funds specifically for outreach and scholarships.

2010
2013
Building Committee Established
NECCA received its 501(c)(3) not for profit status in December 2007 and can accept tax deductible donations. The incorporation of NECCA and the filing of not for profit papers was the culmination of much work from a supportive community, school members and a Board of Directors who believed that it was an important next step in the building of an internationally recognized yet locally vital circus center.
2014
NECCA Expands Again
NECCA grows into 4 studios at the Cotton Mill as well as the Winston-Prouty gymnasium and has a staff of around 35. Land was purchased at Town Crier Dr, which would be the future home of NECCA’s custom trapezium. The outdoor Flying Trapeze rig moved to this site to take advantage of the amazing space and location.

2014
2016
Ground Breaking at Town Crier Drive
NECCA officially breaks ground for construction at the 10 Town Crier Drive location.
2017
NECCA Moves to Town Crier Drive
In June, NECCA officially moved to its new and permanent home in a custom built Trapezium. This moved allowed NECCA to expand its ProTrack program to a full-time 3-year professional training program to better prepare students for the careers ahead. By this time, NECCA’s staff grew to 50 employees.

2017
2018
FlyTeam Is Created
FlyTeam, professional Flying Trapeze program begins.
2019
Three Years of ProTrack
First graduates and tour of the 3-year ProTrack program.

2019

DONATE TO NECCA!

NECCA is a nonprofit that’s committed to the people it serves and the community within which it thrives. We rely on our many generous donors to continue to be a place that’s accessible to everyone, where creativity and artistry soar, and where the seemingly impossible becomes possible—every single day. Please consider joining others in supporting our work. Thank you!

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