"The Clown Conservatory has enabled me to accomplish my dream to work in circus as a clown, and the past year with Ringling Brothers has proven to be the experience of a lifetime."
- Nathan Holguin (Class of 2003, Advanced class of 2004, Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus)

Clowning has evolved remarkably since the 1970’s. The movement that the Pickle Family Circus started over 30 years ago has flourished: Today we are not surprised to see Clowns on a Broadway stage, in hospitals, in variety shows and nightclubs, in Shakespeare Festivals, and yes, in the circus ring – but not just as colorful characters filling the gaps between the acts: they are the stars of the show.

The Clown Conservatory at Circus Center is the only program in the U.S. offering a comprehensive professional training program for this rejuvenated world of clowning. It began with the new century, in 2000, with a start-up grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Today, the Clown Conservatory offers an intensive two-year program, with a world-class faculty of 15 experts in clowning (of course), but also in circus skills and acrobatics, dance, drama, circus and clown history, Alexander technique, mime, make-up, business and more – not to mention prestigious guest instructors.

Our graduates can be seen everywhere – with Cirque Eloize’s Rain, in companies of Stomp, in the praised clown show Aga Boom, in the touring company of My One and Only, and many plays including new work, Shakespeare and even Greek tragedy. Others work with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey, Cirque du Soleil, Circus Monti in Switzerland, and right here with our own Pickle Circus. Casting directors from around the world are now looking to us for performers.

Clown Conservatory alumni also work in their communities: they make up the entire touring company of Circus Center’s environmental education show, one graduate directed Splash Circus, another works with CircEsteem in Chicago, and yet another directs a youth theater program for the City of San Francisco.

Back at the Conservatory, we are participating in a number of film and TV projects, including a documentary on Judy Finelli, we have coached the cast of Cirque du Soleil's Corteo in performance techniques.

With our Clowns in Community program, we have deepened our relationship with San Francisco General Hospital, expanding beyond the pediatrics ward to lead workshops, in English and Spanish, with CARE (Cancer Awareness, Resources and Education), and work on the adult long-term rehabilitation ward. At Rooftop school, our second-year students taught two 'family art nights' and offered an after-school clown program.

The Clown Conservatory is a program of Circus Center at 755 Frederick St., San Francisco, CA 94117 (415) 759.8123.