A Letter from the Wellington Circus Trust Board
Dear Circus Hub Community,
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We are writing today with an important and difficult update about the future of The Circus Hub.
Over the past several months, we have been reviewing the financial reality of our current space, our operating model, and our lease obligations. This has been an extremely challenging period, and we know many of you have felt the pressure alongside us.
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After exploring every possible option, and after extensive conversations with our landlord and advisors, the board has made the difficult decision not to renew the five-year lease on our current building. Because of this, The Circus Hub will be leaving the space in January, and all classes will pause at the end of December.
We know this is significant news, and we want to be as clear and transparent as possible about what this means for you, for our trainers, and for the wider circus community.
What is Happening:
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Leaving the Current Building
Our lease ends on 18 January, and we must be prepared to fully vacate the space by that date. We are currently confirming the exact make-good requirements with our landlord, Te Whaea.
Final Classes in December
Classes will continue as normal until the final week of the term.
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Kids classes finish on 14 December
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Youth Circus finishes on 20 December
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Adults classes may continue until 31 December, depending on trainer availability.
After this, all classes will pause.
No Classes in January or Term 1
Because we do not have a confirmed space for early 2026, we cannot safely or ethically offer Term 1 programming.
Celebration of 2025 with upcoming performances
Because circus will always continue and will always bring joy, we encourage you to come and celebrate with us:
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RAW Student Showcases on 13 December, with:
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2pm - Kids and Youth show
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7:30pm - Evening show
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Circus in the Gardens on 20 December with:
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5:30pm - Rucksack Circus
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7pm - All Star Circus Cabaret
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About Credits, Passes, and Bookings
As a charitable trust, we are committed to fulfilling all obligations responsibly. Credits and class packs will be honoured as normal up to 31 December.
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We encourage everyone to use any remaining class credits before the end of the year. We will keep a record of students’ credit balances at the end of the year in case we’re able to honour those credits in our next home, but until that location is identified, we cannot guarantee credits.
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If you need help planning how to use your credits, please reach out. We are here to help. We understand that class credits are a precious resource to many, and we are seeking to offer extra classes so that you can have more chances to use your credits. We will also support moving credits from one account to another. If you’re traveling but you have a friend who could use your credits, please let us know, and it would be our pleasure to transfer your credits to their account. We want every credit to go to good use.
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We are no longer selling class credit multi-packs. Casual drop-in classes will still be available, at a discount, through December, to maximise access to classes for all who want to participate.
Why This Is Necessary
Despite strong student growth this year, the financial structure of our current space has become unsustainable. Costs have continued to rise, and the gap between income and fixed expenses has widened beyond what the trust can safely support. If we renewed the lease or attempted to continue in the current space, the trust would face financial risks that we cannot ethically take on. This decision allows us to exit responsibly, protect our trainers and staff, and protect the trust's ability to continue serving the circus community in the future.
This Is a Pause, Not the End
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While the school is pausing, the Wellington Circus Trust is not closing. Our commitment to circus in Wellington remains strong. Our equipment will be inventoried and stored. We are now entering a transition phase to explore what the next chapter could look like.
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This may include:
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a smaller or shared space
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a new operating model
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partnerships with other arts or movement organisations
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a community-led structure or incorporated society
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pop-up classes or workshops once space is available
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a staged rebuild over time
We do not yet know which pathway will become reality, but there will be a next chapter, and we want to build it with you.
Supporting Our Staff and Trainers
Our general manager, staff and trainers were the first to receive this news. They have been extraordinary — through every challenge, every roof crisis, every rebuild, and every term.
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We want to acknowledge the care, passion, and professionalism they have shown our community. They remain central to everything that comes next.
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Our management, trainers and staff have done everything they could to keep this place thriving.
Please continue to show them kindness and support, because they deserve it. They may not always have the answers you are looking for.
What Comes Next
Over the coming weeks and leading into next year, we will be working on three fronts:
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Finalising our exit plan
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working to finalise our exit plan with the landlord
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coordinating equipment inventory and storage
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NOTE: We will not be storing personal equipment; please ensure that your personal belongings are vacated from the space before 11 Jan 2026 (1 week before our vacancy).
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work through contractual obligations
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Looking for alternative premises for classes and practice spaces
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Planning ahead to
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the transition process for 2026
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begin shaping the future model with community input.
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Many of you have already asked how you can support. We appreciate this deeply. We are interested in hearing from you and would welcome hearing your ideas and practical ways you could support us on any of the above.
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If you can offer help, skills or ideas, please consider filling out our contact form:
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We will be sending out further communications when we know more, and are working with the trainers on the best way for the community to provide input, give feedback and be actively involved.​
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We Know This Is Hard
We know this announcement comes with sadness, frustration, and grief. This community has been through a lot over the past few years, and we recognise the emotional fatigue many of you feel.
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We want to be honest about what has happened, responsible in the decisions we make, and transparent in how we move forward. We want to keep earning your trust through action, not just words.
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This is not a goodbye. It is a pause, a reset, and the beginning of a new chapter for circus in Wellington.
Thank you for being part of this community. Thank you for your resilience, your passion, and your support through every high and every challenge. We will keep you informed every step of the way.
With care and transparency,
The Wellington Circus Trust Board​​
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