GREENSBORO – As the big top tents came down early in October, Circus Smirkus Executive and Artistic Director Rachel Schiffer was already looking at scenarios for the 2026 season, while focusing on fundraising in the short-term.
The organization’s usual staff of seven or eight people has recently managed three programs: a Big Top Tour, a summer camp and year-round school residencies.
Three people staff the organization now as it evaluates next steps, with Schiffer saying, “I feel good about what the community response has been to our recent fundraising.”
She’s “cautiously optimistic about ending the year in a better position than we had originally anticipated.”
That’s in part because the organization had raised $100,000 toward its $400,000 goal by late September. In early October she wrote, “A generous group of Smirkus friends has come forward with a Matching Gift Challenge! Every donation made between now and November 1 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000.”
We’re about three quarters of the way toward reaching the goal Schiffer said last week.
“There’s energy coalescing around the Big Top with good steps being made there and a goal of building a more sustainable model,” she said. “Perhaps as a stepping stone to the future.”
In recent years the Big Top Tour has involved 30 performing children, who have rehearsed for three weeks early in the summer, then gone on tour through the summer. Five to seven summer camp sessions have been held for children ranging in age from five to 18.
Schiffer says current staff has the capacity to plan and deliver 2026 programs, though the specific sessions may be different from what they’ve been in the past.
Smirkus finances were affected this summer due to rising costs and lower than expected ticket sales, as well as a significant hit from the tariff on a new tent shipped from overseas, said Schiffer.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
