Zirkólika

Zirkólika is a specialised quarterly magazine devoted to the circus sector, published in Barcelona and distributed across the Països Catalans, Spain, Europe and the Americas. Its first issue appeared in June–August 2004. The publication was initially conceived by circus artists Mar Rojas and David Marfil «Txupi» and later brought to life by journalist Vicent Llorca, who has remained its director. The magazine is edited in both Catalan and Spanish, with a digital version launched in 2008. It is recognised as the leading Spanish publication on circus and a reference point for the sector, covering news, reports, interviews, historical notes, show listings, festivals, company profiles and reflection on artistic, legal and labour issues. Beyond publishing, Zirkólika organises the annual Premis Zirkólika de Circ de Catalunya since 2010, runs educational activities such as "Avui, Circ!" for schools, and works on training specialists in circus. The magazine is based at Avenida Francesc Cambó, 36 in Barcelona and can be contacted by phone, WhatsApp and email. It receives financial support from the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, as well as from advertisers. Its print run has evolved from 5,000 copies in early issues to around 800 in Catalan and 1,200 in Spanish by early 2018. Zirkólika remains active, with a current issue (Otoño 2025) and open calls such as the Premios Zirkólika 2025.

The publication of circus magazines has always been tied to the artistic and social vicissitudes of this performing art. Since the disappearance of Circo (edited by Jordi Elias in Barcelona between 1956 and 1962), the gap for a specialised magazine had been partially filled by the voluntary Repista de Circ, published irregularly by the Associació de Circ de Catalunya (ACC) between 1991 and 1999. Zirkòlika was an initial idea of circus artists Mar Rojas and David Marfil «Txupi», later materialised by journalist Vicent Llorca. Both the editorial team and occasional contributors have fluctuated over the years, combining people with journalistic inclinations, professional journalists, artists, critics and circus scholars, and university professors. The first issue (June–August 2004) listed Karen Bernal, Anna Llarch and Raquel Sánchez as editors. Later editors and contributors include Antonio Alcántara, Adolfo Ayuso, Anna Badia, Xavier Barral, Marcel Barrera, Amèlia Bautista, Ramon Bech, Marco Bortoletto, Dani Chicano, Josep Elias, Quim Elias, Lucas Escobedo, Piti Español, Laia Gilabert, Belén Ginart, Joan Ramon Graell, Christian Hamel, Jordi Jané, Javier Jiménez, Bauke Lievens, Víctor López, Montse Majench, Francisco Martín Medrano, Cesc Martínez, Joan Maria Minguet, Neus Molina, Miquel Moreno, Joaquim Noguero, Rafa Peñalver, Ramón Pernas, Davel Puente, Oriol Raventós, Raffaele De Ritis, Adolfo Rossomando, Don Stacey, Carlos Such, Marina Suleymanova, Miquel Valls, Elena Zanzu and Laia Zieger. Among photographers, the most regular are Jesús Atienza and Manel Sala «Ulls». The direction has always been by Vicent Llorca. As for editor-in-chief, until issue 9 (summer 2006) it was David Marfil «Txupi». From issue 10 to 31 (winter 2011) it was Cesc Martínez. Until issue 56 (spring 2018), the editor-in-chief was Marcel Barrera. The first headquarters of Zirkòlika was (like many other circus initiatives and projects in Catalonia) the Ateneu Popular 9 Barris in Barcelona. Currently, Zirkòlika is (along with Ambidextro, edited by the Asociación de Malabaristas de Madrid) the reference circus magazine in Spain, with contributors from the Països Catalans, Spain, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Italy. The format has always been DIN A-4 (21 x 29.7 cm), in full colour. The first issues printed 5,000 copies and the edition was mostly in Spanish, with very few articles in Catalan. From issue 10 (autumn 2006), Zirkòlika produced two parallel editions (Catalan and Spanish). At the beginning of 2018, print runs were 800 copies in Catalan and 1,200 in Spanish (the language in which it is sent to subscribers in Spain and the rest of the world). In 2008, Zirkólika presented the digital version (only in Spanish), and currently the first forty issues can be consulted on the magazine's website in PDF format. In addition to advertisers, the magazine has the financial support of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. With the aim of "making circus arts known and contributing to their development", Zirkòlika covers Catalan, Spanish and international circus news through news items, chronicles, reports, interviews, historical notes, show listings, events and festivals, company profiles, reflection on artistic, legal and labour issues, bibliographic and videographic novelties, etc. It is the main Spanish publication on circus and a reference that emerged from the sector's own need for a medium of information, communication and dissemination of this performing art. It is a magazine for both professionals and enthusiasts. It has a paper version and a digital one, with free access on its website. It is published in both Catalan and Spanish. The main sales system is by subscription, but it can also be acquired in circus specialty shops and bookstores specialising in art and culture, as well as in various libraries in Spain or at events, fairs and festivals such as the Trapezi Circus Festival in Reus, the Fira de Teatre al Carrer de Tàrrega and the Fira Mediterrània de Manresa, or at international festivals such as the Monte Carlo Festival, the Cirque de Demain festival in Paris and the Cinars fair in Montreal. In parallel, Zirkólika works on training circus specialists, organising theoretical specialisation days, contributes to creating new audiences by carrying out cultural-educational activities for schools and institutes called "Avui, Circ!", and supports creation by organising the Premis de Circ de Catalunya. Zirkólika also organises, annually since 2010, the Premis Zirkólika de Circ de Catalunya, which aim to give recognition and visibility to circus actions carried out in Catalonia. All circus actions premiered in the last two or three years prior to the year of the call, which could be seen during the year of the call, which have been co-produced in Catalonia and which are still in a position to be programmed, are eligible for the awards. The awards are divided into ten categories: street, hall, tent, circus act, staging, original music, direction, initiative for projection, new company and "special of the gala". In previous editions there were also categories: comic show and family circus. The jury is appointed by the organisers of the awards and is made up of people with extensive knowledge of circus in Catalonia who cannot be nominated in any of the categories.

• 2018

  Print runs: 800 copies in Catalan and 1,200 in Spanish.

• 2010

  Premis Zirkólika de Circ de Catalunya established, held annually since.

• 2008

  Digital version launched (only in Spanish).

• 2006

  From issue 10 (autumn 2006), two parallel editions (Catalan and Spanish) are produced.

• 2004

  First issue published (June–August 2004).

The leading Spanish publication on circus and a reference for the sector, aimed at both professionals and enthusiasts.

• Zirkólika magazine (print, quarterly)

  DIN A-4, full colour, published in Catalan and Spanish editions.

• Zirkólika digital edition

  Free access on the website, launched in 2008, only in Spanish.

• PDF archive of first forty issues

  Available on the magazine's website.

1. 1Zirkólika · Revista del circo y de las artes circenseszirkolika.com
2. 2CONTACTA CON NOSOTROSzirkolika.com
3. 3Serge Gambi: «La vuelta al mundo sobre una mano»zirkolika.com
4. 4Zirkólikawikidata.org
5. 5Zirkólikaca.wikipedia.org