Greentop is the principal centre for circus arts education in the North of England. We exist to use human circus skills to transform lives and bring about positive social and individual change.
An arts education charity, one of the UK’s few full time Circus Schools, we operate as a social enterprise- all the income we earn is reinvested into supporting our charitable objectives- find out more on the Funders and Suporters pages.
Greentop’s vision is of: “A thriving circus arts sector in the North of England, where circus is an artform that touches everyone in the North, transforming lives and inspiring positive social and individual change”
Our Mission is “to use contemporary circus skills to enhance people’s lives and inspire positive change”
Because our vision is so huge, and our mission could take us in many directions, we have set out to focus over the next five years on our role as a leading circus arts education provider in the north of England.
To achieve this, we deliver activities under 6 Strategic Objectives:
- Circus Centre- to run a Circus Arts Education Centre
- Professional and qualification based courses- to offer professional development, and accredited or qualification-based courses in circus arts
- Adult and community programme- to run an adult and community programme that engages new learners and is accessible and inclusive
- Youth and schools programme- to offer a high quality youth and schools programme education provision, working inclusively and enabling those with potential to progress
- Shows and Performances- to increase audiences for circus arts through Shows and performances engaging new learners, new audiences and providing employment for practitioners
- Partnership and development - to develop the organisation so it is strong and sustainable and can contribute to the regeneration of the local community whilst contributing to the development of circus arts locally, regionally and nationally
Some fascinating Greentop facts:
Greentop's Community Circus Centre is the only circus centre in the Yorkshire region including the only custom-fitted trapeze rig in the region.
Greentop runs the UK's foremost Circus Arts full time foundation course in the UK
Greentop was established in the 1990's through hard work by local circus artists and by Anneka Rice's TV makeover programme Challenge Anneka.
In a typical year, Greentop works with over 6,000 children and young people, and over 21,000 people are taught circus skills at our classes or see our performers in action!
Even at our busiest time of year (during the full time course January-April) we still schedule a minimum of 40 hours per week for professional artist practice time, subsidised to just £1 per hour.
