The Big Apple Circus, the 38-year-old non-profit that has provided family-friendly entertainment on tour around the U.S., is soliciting bids for the sale of its assets pursuant to bidding procedures approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
Big Apple Circus, as previously reported, failed to reach its goal in its “Save the Circus” fundraising effort and canceled its 2016-17 season. The organization had hoped to raise $2 million by August 1, 2016.
The circus, which performed under a red canvas circus tent in New York‘s Damrosch Park each holiday season, released a statement this past summer saying, “Big Apple Circus, whose performances in New York and around the country have thrilled audiences for years, announced today that while it has not raised sufficient funds to produce a show under its Big Top next season, the recent donations it has received will enable the organization to restructure and continue to provide community service programs, including Clown Care, which brings the joy of classical circus to hospitalized children.”
The aforementioned assets include all of the Circus' performance equipment and intellectual property, among other items. All interested buyers must submit bids by February 3 at 5 PM ET. An auction to consider bulk bids to acquire substantially all of the Circus' assets will be held February 7 and managed by Stampler Auctions.
The February 7 auction will be held at the New York offices of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, who are serving pro bono as the Big Apple Circus' legal counsel in the bankruptcy case. Details regarding the sale process, including bidding procedures and asset lists, can be found online at www.stamplerauctions.com.
Will Maitland Weiss, executive director of the Big Apple Circus, said in a statement, “We are grateful to our board members, staff, artists, donors, audience members, and community partners who have stood by us and continued to offer their support to save the Circus. We hope to see a revived Big Apple Circus back under the Big Top to delight audiences of all ages, abilities, and income levels in the years to come.”
