PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
2026 Circus Award
Montreal, July 5, 2026 – The Montreal Arts Council (CAM) and En Piste, the National Circus Arts Alliance, are thrilled to award the third Propulsion Award to La Croustade for La Soirée de la Confiture – Édition Suc’ à Crème Deluxe, under the artistic direction of Vincent Jutras. Accompanied by a $10,000 grant, the award was presented by Nathalie Maillé, Executive Director of the CAM, on July 5 during En Piste’s 5@Cirque event, as part of MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE.
The jury members praised “the refreshing approach of an innovative, unifying, and diverse artistic proposal that gives pride of place to spontaneity, improvisation, and vulnerability within a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.” This bold initiative was also described as “vibrant, joyful, immersive, and dazzling, with the ability to rally the circus community and foster new synergies.”
“The Conseil des arts de Montréal is delighted to recognize, through the Propulsion Award in Circus Arts, avant-garde initiatives that actively contribute to Montreal’s artistic vibrancy. With ‘La Soirée de la Confiture – Édition Suc’ à Crème Deluxe’, La Croustade brilliantly embodies boldness and the ability to bring people together: an inventive proposal, free from conventions, that opens up new frontiers for the circus and strengthens bonds within the community. A big thank you to En Piste, a valued partner in this celebration of circus creativity.”
— Nathalie Maillé, Executive Director, CAM
La Soirée de la Confiture Édition Suc‘ à Crème Deluxe
First conceived in 2023, the Soirée de la Confiture was subsequently adapted for the Drôle d’oiseau Festival. The “Suc’ à Crème Deluxe” edition on October 11, 2025, took place in the spacious Centre de création of La compagnie des autres, which allowed La Croustade to expand the scope of the show, during which the audience was invited to move around. The event was divided into four segments, each consisting of improvisational games in various spaces of the former Saint-Enfant-Jésus Church in Pointe-aux-Trembles, specially arranged for the occasion. Among other things, the audience saw contortionists moving through trestle stages, clowns guided by the audience’s applause to find hidden objects, a group of hand-to-hand acrobats challenging and helping one another during physical feats, and jugglers in a friendly competition submitting their performances to a public vote. Three well-known figures from the circus world shared their favourites by handing out jam toasts to the artists throughout the evening.
The “La Soirée de la Confiture – Édition Suc’ à Crème Deluxe” ranks among the highlights of the 2025 Montréal circus calendar. Its originality lies in spontaneous creativity within an atmosphere of joyful whimsy and in the commitment of Eline Guélat and Vincent Jutras to a form of circus art that values exploration, a playful approach to work, physical and artistic risk-taking, uninhibited human connections, intense training, and the drive to push one’s limits. In addition to MC Croustille (Vincent Jutras) and his sidekick Marmelade (Eline Guélat), La Soirée de la Confiture – Édition Suc’ à Crème Deluxe brought together 22 circus artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, as well as members of the circus community, both on the organizing team and in the audience. The unique works created during the event are the result of a novel approach in which the temporary convergence of talents and collaborative spirit enrich the circus arts. A creative playground much appreciated by the artists, La Soirée took place in a festive and colourful atmosphere.
La Croustade
Cleverly combining virtuosity with a laid-back style and a touch of whimsy, La Croustade titled its first show L’après-midi tombe quand tes biscuits se ruinent. The founding duo took the stage in a playful circus world where acrodance, contortion, skateboarding, and comedy came together. Performed at cultural centrers across Montréal, the show was also featured at the UP Festival in Brussels, among other venues. In addition to Les Soirées de la Confiture, this contemporary circus company—founded in 2018—has produced the web series Pouding Chômeur and shows such as Beigne, Psyché, and Grenadine. La Croustade’s most recent creation, La Bagatelle du roi des miettes, is on the bill during MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE from July 8 to 11. It’s worth noting that Vincent Jutras is directing Clafoutis by Cirque de la Pointe-Sèche, which runs from July 2 to August 29 in Saint-Germain-de-Kamouraska.
The Propulsion Award
To help promote the circus arts and recognize contributions that support their development, the Propulsion Award honours an individual, collective, or organization that contributes to the enrichment of the circus arts. The Propulsion Award is the result of a partnership between CAM and En Piste that began in 2024, the year the award was won by the company Acting for Climate Montréal. Last year, La compagnie des autres received this honour. In addition to the visibility and recognition granted to the recipients, the Propulsion Award generates significant benefits for the winning project and creates momentum within the circus arts community.
From among the high-quality projects submitted, the five-member jury—composed of professionals from the circus community—selected four finalists. The other finalists are David Ayotte, co-creator of the “Auteur de cirque” program with the National Circus School and the National Theatre School of Canada; “Our Lady of the Home / Notre-Dame du Foyer” by Alyssa Bunce; and Julien Desforges, a creative artist who blends hair suspension and slacklining.
The four finalist projects represent a cross-section of the diverse forms of contemporary circus in Montréal. They meet the Propulsion Award’s criteria with original artistic proposals, innovative, equitable, and inclusive practices, as well as significant reach in Montréal and beyond.
The Propulsion Award and the CALQ Award for Best Circus Work were presented at En Piste’s 5@Cirque event during the MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE festival on July 5, 2026. Nathalie Maillé, Executive Director of the CAM, presented the Propulsion Award, while Honorine Youmbissi, Director of Support for Artists, Communities, and Regional Initiatives at the CALQ, presented the CALQ Award for Best Circus Work — along with a $15,000 grant — to Cirque de la Pointe-Sèche for its production Sortilège.
– 30 –
Information
Valérie Grig
Rugicomm
514 812-3858
valerie@rugicomm.ca
