The Collection
What does the collection at the Circus Museum comprise?
Our collection comprises over 110,000 different items – including thousands of pictures. It also consists of posters, costumes, props, personal diaries, circus show programmes and newspaper clippings. The collection contains materials from acrobats, jugglers, animal trainers, clowns, magicians, illusionists, carnies, workers, musicians, singers, actors, and dancers. Mainly, these contributions stem from Danish artists and circuses. Our collection is the biggest of its kind in all of northern Europe.
The lion’s share of the collection comes from the artist called Ølund Barly and his vast collection of circus and artist memorabilia. He is also the main reason why the Circus Museum opened. As time has progressed, the illusionist Truxa’s collection also found a place here, and we actually receive new items continuously, both from private individuals, artists, circuses, as well as from other museums and archives.
What should I do if I would like to donate items to the museum?
If you are in possession of any material that you wish to transfer to the museum permanently, we would very much like to hear from you. To reach the best transfer possible, we need to draft an agreement so that both the donor, the items, and the recipient are given the very best conditions before, during, and after said transfer.
When handing in contributions, you will fill in a so called “indkomstseddel” (donation form), which collects data about the item and its history. The form also functions as an agreement between you as a donor and the Circus Museum concerning what rights the museum is granted concerning the donated item(s).
We at the Circus Museum appreciate everyone who have donations in mind of materials from the world of the circus and performers. But we will always retain the option of declining a donation or a story. The museum’s collection is based on a policy which focusses on collecting relevant items that document and describe Danish artist and circus history.
Does the Circus Museum answer questions and enquiries?
All members of the public are more than welcome to make enquiries. Many members of the public use the museum to look for information about relatives who have performed in the circus or at carnivals. The media and researchers use the museum to find circus specific expert knowledge.
We do everything possible to find an answer to an enquiry as quickly at possible. Our goal is to respond to enquiries within 30 working days. The more information we have concerning an enquiry, the greater the chance of us being able to contribute with new information in answering an enquiry. Therefore, we ask you to provide us with every piece of information known concerning an enquiry.
If the enquiry demands extra resources on our part, e.g., a visit to our storage facilities, there will be an additional fee of 260 DKK per started working hour. Such extra work will not be undertaken without the approval of the one who made the enquiry.
Is it possible to visit the museum collection, archive, and library?
It is possible to visit the vast collection of circus literature of the museum. It is also possible to make arrangements to see and dive into items from our collection. A great deal of the collection is stored in archives and a warehouse, which entails that a visit needs to be agreed upon beforehand. If the items you want to see are stored in our off-site storage facility, a fee of 260 DKK per started working hour will be in force, due to the extra work effort needed.
How can I come into contact with the museum if I wish to enquire about anything stated in this text?
You can contact us via info@cirkusmuseet.dk or phone, +45 36 49 00 30, during office hours, 10 AM to 3 PM.