New circus school to replace Circus Conservatory at Thompson's Point
PHOTO / TIM GREENWAY
Chris Thompson of Forefront Partners I, the developer of Thompson's Point in Portland
Another circus school will replace the Circus Conservatory of America at Thompson’s Point in Portland after the conservatory announced Sept. 16 it would be leaving its leased space at the waterfront development.
Josh Oliver, former Circus Conservatory instructor, and Chris Thompson, who is helping lead the redevelopment of the former rail yard on the Fore River, announced the launch of Oliver’s new school Monday, the Portland Press Herald reported.
The new school, Circus Maine, won’t be seeking to become a degree-granting institution, unlike the Circus Conservatory. It will offer classes in the same 6,000-square-foot space in an industrial building the Circus Conservatory had been leasing, according to the newspaper.
Peter Nielsen, the director of the Circus Conservatory, said last week the school "mutually agreed" to terminate its lease with Thompson's Point developers, Forefront Partners I, to focus on developing the school as a degree-granting program for people pursuing careers in the circus arts. The school canceled its fall lineup of recreational after-school classes and is moving out of the old industrial building it was leasing.
Nielsen said the Circus Conservatory still intends to stay in Portland and eventually operate in a building on Thompson's Point, but meeting the state's requirements for a degree program will require significant effort and time.
The nonprofit circus conservatory was one of the first tenants announced for the 30-acre, $105 million redevelopment project back in 2013. Earlier that year, Forefront Partners I had closed on its purchase of the land.
The State Theatre began holding outdoor concerts at Thompson's Point this year, and several other tenants, including Lincolnville-based Cellardoor Winery, announced plans to open in the development.
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