Interim Artistic Director Circus and Performance Art

Do you have a vision for contemporary circus and performance? Fontys Academy of the Arts is seeking an interim Artistic Director who connects artistic quality, education, and change, and builds the future of a unique program.

Your job at Fontys

As interim Artistic Director, together with the Program Director, you will guide the next development phase of the Circus & Performance Art programme. You bring a clear artistic vision and translate it into a future-proof profile, a distinctive curriculum, and a strong connection with the national and international professional field. In doing so, you will work closely with lecturers, students, alumni, and external partners.

You are the substantive driver of the transition and know how to bring people along in change. You create a connection between artistic quality, educational development, and the strategic direction of Fontys Academy of the Arts. At the same time, you contribute to a professional collaborative culture in which trust, ownership, and social safety are central.

In this role, you will, among other things:

• provide direction to the artistic vision, profiling, and substantive development of the study program;
• designing and guiding the reprofiling and curriculum development (Talent-Oriented Education);
• strengthening sustainable relationships with the (inter)national circus and performance field;
• contribute to the development of a future-proof teaching team and a professional collaborative culture;
• together with the program director, guide the programme towards a distinctive, financially and organizationally sustainable future.

The challenge lies in connecting artistic ambition, educational quality, and organizational development. You build upon the solid foundation laid over the past period and, together with the team, guide the next phase in which vision, collaboration, and future-proofing come together.

Candidate profile

To make a real impact in this role, we expect you to have at least 3-5 years of relevant work experience and a higher professional education (HBO) or Bachelor's degree.

In addition, you recognize yourself in the following:

• You get energy from developing an artistic vision and building a future-proof educational program together with others.
• You have extensive experience within the (inter)national circus and performance field and possess a relevant professional network.
• You have experience guiding change processes, curriculum development, and/or artistic direction development within arts education or a similar context.
• You are a connecting leader who provides direction, inspires trust, and knows how to bring different interests together.
• You understand how artistic ambitions, educational quality, and organizational and financial preconditions reinforce each other, and you know how to make realistic choices in this regard.

Practical information

We like to make things easy for you, and the information below will definitely help you with that.

• Do not wait too long to respond; you can do so until the closing date.
• Address your application to: Martyn Smits, Deputy Director Fontys Academy of the Arts
• Any questions about the vacancy? No problem. Ask Martyn Smits (T: +31885073669)
• If you have any questions about the procedure, you can contact Fontys Talent Centre (HR&O), 08850 75366.
• Date of conversations: 14-9-2026
• Are we both positive? The start date is 1-10-2026
• Within Fontys, a mandatory assessment has been introduced for everyone who will be performing duties within Fontys, in the form of a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).

Enthusiastic?
Do you see yourself as the artistic director building the future of Circus & Performance Art together with us? Then we warmly invite you to apply. We look forward to your vision, experience, and enthusiasm to further develop this unique program together with us.

Do not hesitate to contact Martyn Smits: m.smits@fontys.nl

You can find more info about the job here.