In 1999 it started to run a BA (Hons) two-year intensive course in "Theatre Practice – Contemporary Circus"[2] in association with the Central School of Speech and Drama.
However, in September 2014, Circomedia in Bristol launched a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Circus and Physical Performance, accredited by Bath Spa University.
[4][5] Some of those artists who prepared for the spectacular high-wire act in the Paralympics Opening Ceremony at the Olympics 2012 included injured soldiers.
Rufus Norris, now Artistic Director of the National Theatre, said in 2014:"One of the challenges in this country has been that a lot of the circus arts have been abroad – Europe, Canada, America, China, Russia.
This piece will revisit the company’s frequent obsessions with grids/patterns and mathematics and will be informed with a hovering new found theatricality.”[11] The National Centre for Circus Arts is a member of the Creative Industries Federation.
[12] In 2016, the National Centre was awarded an "outstanding" two star Creative Industry Green certification for its commitment to reducing its environmental impact by Julie's Bicycle.
[13] National Centre alumni include stars of Cirque du Soleil, the Royal Shakespeare Company and actress Sadie Frost, who learnt flying trapeze.
Graduate company Circulus includes successful model[14] and gentleman juggler[15] Tom Gaskin, and film maker Remy Archer.
National Centre graduate company Barely Methodical Troupe (BMT), founded by Beren D'Amico, Charlie Wheeller and Louis Gift, achieved critical success[16][17] for their debut show Bromance.
Their experimental acrobatic circus company fuses Hand-to-Hand and Cyr Wheel with a through line of creative dynamic movement.