Frequently Asked Questions

  • BIPOC Acro Collective Care Ecosystem (BACCES): This group was formed to lift up BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC). We recognize that Black and Indigenous people are distinctly and severely impacted by systemic racial injustices

    An ecosystem is an environment where organisms and their physical environments work together to thrive. Diversity stabilizes ecosystems. We can choose to rely on this ecosystem in an extractive way, or a regenerative one.

    Collective care is what can sustain this ecosystem. Investing in each other. Supporting our community. Treating each other as sacred. Imagining experiences that are co-created.

    "BACCES" is pronounced the same as in 'bases', the base for acro, the support that helps provide access to tricks and lifts people up; also ‘basis’ as in foundational, fundamental.

  • Ariel Mihic is the founder of BACCES. She is a Chinese acrobat in the Bay Area. For most of her time in acrobatic spaces, she struggled with the tension between her love for circus and her frustration with the way the art has been dominated by primarily White, upper class, heteronormative, and gender-normative people. For over a decade she worked to ease this tension by teaching workshops for queer/trans and BIPOC, leading conversations about power dynamics in circus, and promoting sliding scale accessibility. She was not alone in this experience, as many BIPOC acrobats were beginning to organize collectively to address the harm that was pervasive in the circus community. There was a clear need and desire for more BIPOC community engagement and advocacy. Out of these experiences, BACCES was formed in 2023 as a collective by and for circus artists of color. BACCES commits to creating empowering spaces for artist disruptors and culture bearers. Marginalized acrobats, especially those who have experienced racialized harm or discrimination, are the primary focus of BACCES.

  • BACCES believes in reciprocity, community care, accountable relationships, mutual aid, representation, and bodily autonomy.

  • Our organization is BIPOC founded and led. We have roots in the SF circus community and organizational reach across the US and abroad. Our BIPOC steering committee makes all strategic and operational decisions.  We have a dedicated team of White allies who also assist in day-to-day activities.

  • If you are BIPOC, please send us which events and festivals YOU want to attend and we will reach out to see if they are a good fit! For us, that means organizers that are committed to inclusion, accountability, and partnership.

  • Our festival/event application supports national trainings and festivals, but we also support more local events and programming. Check out our local programming initiative to learn more!

  • Our initial focus is on partner acrobatics. We may expand down the line. Please check out CSAW for broader circus support. We love what they do!

  • Our initial focus is North America and the UK. If there are events outside of this geography that are of interest, please send us an email with more info so we can explore!