Last updated on November 3, 2008

The Mission of Circus Center is to inspire passion for circus arts through training, performance, and community outreach programs.

Description:
Circus Center is the only circus arts organization in the country that provides professional students, recreational students and youth with performance and training opportunities. Founded in 1984 as a special project of the Pickle Family Circus, Circus Center has grown through the artistic influences and talents of its instructors and the broader circus community. It has been dubbed as “America’s premiere center for the arts of the circus,” by Spectacle—A Quarterly Journal of Circus Arts. What began as a class with 16 children has become a thriving nonprofit that trains more than 1000 youth and adults, and reaches over 100,000 people through performances each year.

History:
Circus Center has a rich and complex history. The Pickle Family Circus was founded in 1974 by Peggy Snider and Larry Pisoni. Ten years later, Wendy Parkman and Judy Finelli founded the San Francisco School for Circus Arts. The school began as a special project of the Pickle Family Circus with a class of 16 students on Potrero Hill. It slowly grew in both students and staff. In 1990, Judy hired master trainer Lu Yi from the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe in the People’s Republic of China along with several other artists from his troupe. The school continued to grow and finally became an incorporated nonprofit in 1993. With this shift, the school also moved into its current location at the former Polytech High School gymnasium near Golden Gate Park.

In 1996, Lu Yi started a new program at the school to provide young students with performing opportunities. Initially known as the San Francisco Youth Circus, the program has evolved into what is now known as the San Francisco Circus. In 2000, the school purchased the New Pickle Circus and the Clown Conservatory was born with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The next year, the organization changed its name a year later to Circus Center to fully reflect the array of programs and performance opportunities. In 2006, Elena Panova designed the Professional Aerial Program for the training of aerial arts students who wish to pursue a professional circus career.

Contact people:

Michael Kesselman, General Manager, (phone), (email) Ken Levinson, Board President, (email) Maggie McArthur, Vice President, (email)

Main office number: (415) 759-8123
Office fax number: (415) 759-8644

Address:

755 Frederick Street San Francisco, CA 94117 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.circuscenter.org

Directions:

From Downtown/Union Square -Take Geary Street, heading west -After about 20 blocks, you will pass Divisadero Street. At this point get into the right lane. (The left lanes will go into a tunnel shortly, you do not want the tunnel) - Turn Left onto Masonic and go about 15 blocks to Frederick - Turn Right onto Frederick, go through light at Stanyan Street Continue on and about 2 blocks down you will see the Gym on Left - Go up the stairs on outside of building to 2nd set of doors From East Bay by Car From East Bay By car: I-80 West over Bay Bridge; Follow signs to 101 Take the 9th Street exit, take a right on 9th Cross Market and veer left onto Hayes Take a left on Gough Take an immediate right on Fell Take Fell Street about 2 &1/2 miles to Masonic. Turn Left onto Masonic and go up the hill about 6 blocks to Frederick, Turn Right onto Frederick; go through light at Stanyan Street Continue on and about 2 blocks down you will see the Circus Center Gymnasium on Left Go up the stairs on outside of building to 2nd set of doors From North Bay by Car Take 101 South over the Golden Gate Bridge Take 19th Ave/Highway 1 Exit; first exit on right immediately after Toll Plaza through Golden Gate Park. Take Right immediately after the Park onto Lincoln Way; take a left onto 21st Ave, then left onto Irving, then left back onto 19th Ave, then a right on Lincoln Way. After about 20 blocks, keep to the right and go straight (left lanes will go into the park). Lincoln Way will do a slight jog to the right and turn into Frederick Street, this is our corner. The School Gymnasium is a large sand-colored building, which you will see on your right. Go up the stairs on outside of building to 2nd set of doors From 280 From the 280 North, exit at 19th Avenue Take 19th Avenue to Lincoln Way (the southern edge of Golden Gate Park). Turn Right onto Lincoln Way. After about 20 blocks, keep to the right and go straight (left lanes will go into the park). Lincoln Way will do a slight jog to the right and turn into Frederick Street, this is our corner. The School Gymnasium is a large sand-colored building, which you will see on your right. Go up the stairs on outside of building to 2nd set of doors By Public Transportation From the East Bay, take BART to Civic Center; transfer to N-Judah Muni train Outbound From downtown SF take the N-Judah Muni train Outbound from any of the Market street subway stops Stay on Muni until three stops past Stanyan; this will be UCSF Walk back 1/2 block to Arguello, walk down Arguello (North) about 1 block to Frederick, take a right onto Frederick Gym is 1/2 block down on the right. Go up the stairs on outside of building to 2nd set of doors Bus #71 will drop you off right at the corner of Frederick and Arguello; school is the gymnasium on the South side of Frederick just East of Arguello; Go up the stairs on outside of building to 2nd set of doors

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	Mandarin, Russian
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	18
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	No
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	Yes

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