Call for Creation, Research, and Cultural action Residencies 2026–2027

The Plus Petit Cirque du Monde – Centre Culturel de Rencontre is launching a call for applications as part of its Pépinière des Périphéries program for research, creation, and cultural action residencies taking place between October 2026 and July 2027.

The Plus Petit Cirque du Monde – Centre Culturel de Rencontre, dedicated to the heritages of urban peripheries, the body, and music, welcomes around ten artistic teams each year in residence to support and accompany their creative processes within the framework of the Pépinière des Périphéries, in Bagneux.

With the main objectives of valuing heritage, fostering transdisciplinary exchange, and engaging in dialogue with local communities, these residencies aim to strengthen connections and encourage everyone’s active participation in neighborhood life and in reflections on the cultural legacies of suburban cities.

The PPCM wishes to acknowledge the support of the Fondation de France, the BNP Paribas Foundation, and the Fonds Régnier pour la Culture, whose contributions enable the development of its artistic and cultural ideas lab. Thanks to their support, the PPCM continues to be recognized as a welcoming space for cultural diversity and richness, and can offer project leaders the time and resources needed for reflection and artistic development.

Who is this program for?

These residencies are open to professional artists (emerging, mid-career, or established) wishing to carry out a research project, a cultural and artistic education initiative, an artistic experiment, or to develop part of a performance creation.

The program primarily targets artistic teams based in France or within the European area, provided they are authorized to work professionally in France.
Artists based outside the European area are invited to apply through Odyssée, our International Mobility Residency Program.

Residency objectives

The three main objectives of the residency are:

1. To support artists during their residency period in the development of their artistic project (research, creation, etc.).
2. To build connections with local audiences, especially young people and schools. A portion of the residency must be dedicated to cultural engagement activities within the territory. Artists are invited to propose actions related to their project at the time of application.
3. To share a work-in-progress presentation with the public (residency showing, presentation, or performance).

These actions will be co-developed with the artists in relation to their residency project, in collaboration with local partners, and defined jointly with the PPCM team.

Eligible disciplines

Artists may propose research, creation, or cultural action projects aligned with the disciplines and themes supported by PPCM:

• Circus arts
• Dance
• Music (especially involving body and movement)
• Peri-urban heritage (architecture, creation in public space, etc.)

Transdisciplinary approaches are particularly encouraged. The PPCM also welcomes site-specific research and creation projects.

Residency conditions

• Residencies last a maximum of 2 weeks, depending on the needs of the project and scheduling availability.
• Logistical, financial, and technical arrangements will be discussed and co-defined with the PPCM team based on the residency’s objectives.
• The PPCM provides financial support to help cover project-related expenses (for example, artistic fees, accommodation, per diems, transportation, etc.). The amount awarded will depend on the project’s needs and scope.
• Before submitting an application, candidates are invited to ensure that their project aligns with PPCM’s hosting and support capacities. Special attention will be given to the project’s compatibility with the technical specifications of the PPCM tent (Chapiteau du PPCM). Please consult the technical sheet carefully before applying.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, candidates must:

• Have read the call guidelines and address the three residency objectives
• Be engaged in a professional artistic career
• Have a legal structure (company, collective, etc.) or a delegated production arrangement
• Be able to engage in dialogue with the team and audiences
• Be available during the agreed residency period

Please note: requests for space rental or external use cannot be submitted under this call.

Project selection

In addition to reviewing applicants’ professional backgrounds, the selection committee will pay special attention to:

• The artistic quality of the project
• Its connection to the themes of suburban heritage, the body, and music
• Its potential to engage with PPCM’s audiences

Applicants will be notified of the results by the PPCM Artistic Department. The PPCM reserves the right to decline any project without providing justification.

Tentative timeline

• October 14, 2025: Call for applications opens
• November 30, 2025 (11:59 p.m.): Deadline for submissions
• December 2025 – February 2026: Application review
• February 2026: Advisory selection committee meeting
• End of February 2026: Announcement of results
• October 2026 – July 2027: Residency periods

Application submission

To apply, please fill out the online form and send the following documents by email to artistique@ppcm.fr:

• The artistic dossier of the project (including a company presentation, team biographies, artistic statement, description of planned cultural actions, and creation timeline)
• The technical sheet of the project
• The project’s provisional production budget
• A communication kit (photos, videos, links, etc.)

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Photo credit: Mahamat Fofana, one of the laureates of the 2025–2026 residency call, with his project Mahamat © Cie La Main de l’Homme