Yaron Lifschitz, Artistic Director and CEO of Brisbane-based Circa, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Artist Award from the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA).

The accolade celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions through talent, artistry and service to the global arts community.

Lifschitz is the first Queenslander to receive this honour, joining a distinguished list of past recipients such as Peter Brook, Pina Bausch, and Angelique Kidjo. Previous Australian awardees include Dame Joan Sutherland, Archie Roach and Jack Charles. The award will be presented during the ISPA New York Congress on 16 January at The Times Center in New York City.

Yaron Lifschitz (right) at work with members of Circa. Photo © David Kelly

In announcing the award, ISPA described Lifschitz as “a visionary and arguably one of the leading artistic entrepreneurs of the day.” The organisation lauded his commitment to circus arts and nurturing the next generation of performers, as exemplified by his work with Circa.

“To hail from Brisbane, to work in the medium of circus, and to receive an award whose previous recipients include Peter Brook, Leonard Bernstein, and Dame Joan Sutherland is as...