diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend.c
index b27c6736f..ac1035231 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "config.h"
 
 #include "clutter/clutter-backend-private.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-context-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-debug.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-event-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-marshal.h"
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-context-private.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-context-private.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dc81d7f52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-context-private.h
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2006 OpenedHand
+ * Copyright (C) 2023 Red Hat
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "clutter/clutter-context.h"
+
+struct _ClutterContext
+{
+  GObject parent;
+
+  ClutterBackend *backend;
+  ClutterStageManager *stage_manager;
+
+  GAsyncQueue *events_queue;
+
+  /* the event filters added via clutter_event_add_filter. these are
+   * ordered from least recently added to most recently added */
+  GList *event_filters;
+
+  CoglPangoFontMap *font_map;
+
+  GSList *current_event;
+
+  GList *repaint_funcs;
+  guint last_repaint_id;
+
+  ClutterSettings *settings;
+
+  gboolean is_initialized;
+  gboolean show_fps;
+};
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-context.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-context.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4fb4f0ff3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-context.c
@@ -0,0 +1,318 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2006 OpenedHand
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ */
+
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include "clutter/clutter-context-private.h"
+
+#include <hb-glib.h>
+
+#include "cally/cally.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-backend-private.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-debug.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-graphene.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-main.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-paint-node-private.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-settings-private.h"
+
+static gboolean clutter_disable_mipmap_text = FALSE;
+static gboolean clutter_show_fps = FALSE;
+
+#ifdef CLUTTER_ENABLE_DEBUG
+static const GDebugKey clutter_debug_keys[] = {
+  { "misc", CLUTTER_DEBUG_MISC },
+  { "actor", CLUTTER_DEBUG_ACTOR },
+  { "texture", CLUTTER_DEBUG_TEXTURE },
+  { "event", CLUTTER_DEBUG_EVENT },
+  { "paint", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT },
+  { "pick", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PICK },
+  { "pango", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PANGO },
+  { "backend", CLUTTER_DEBUG_BACKEND },
+  { "scheduler", CLUTTER_DEBUG_SCHEDULER },
+  { "script", CLUTTER_DEBUG_SCRIPT },
+  { "shader", CLUTTER_DEBUG_SHADER },
+  { "animation", CLUTTER_DEBUG_ANIMATION },
+  { "layout", CLUTTER_DEBUG_LAYOUT },
+  { "clipping", CLUTTER_DEBUG_CLIPPING },
+  { "oob-transforms", CLUTTER_DEBUG_OOB_TRANSFORMS },
+  { "frame-timings", CLUTTER_DEBUG_FRAME_TIMINGS },
+  { "detailed-trace", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DETAILED_TRACE },
+  { "grabs", CLUTTER_DEBUG_GRABS },
+  { "frame-clock", CLUTTER_DEBUG_FRAME_CLOCK },
+};
+#endif /* CLUTTER_ENABLE_DEBUG */
+
+static const GDebugKey clutter_pick_debug_keys[] = {
+  { "nop-picking", CLUTTER_DEBUG_NOP_PICKING },
+};
+
+static const GDebugKey clutter_paint_debug_keys[] = {
+  { "disable-swap-events", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_SWAP_EVENTS },
+  { "disable-clipped-redraws", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_CLIPPED_REDRAWS },
+  { "redraws", CLUTTER_DEBUG_REDRAWS },
+  { "paint-volumes", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_VOLUMES },
+  { "disable-culling", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_CULLING },
+  { "disable-offscreen-redirect", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_OFFSCREEN_REDIRECT },
+  { "continuous-redraw", CLUTTER_DEBUG_CONTINUOUS_REDRAW },
+  { "paint-deform-tiles", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_DEFORM_TILES },
+  { "damage-region", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_DAMAGE_REGION },
+  { "disable-dynamic-max-render-time", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_DYNAMIC_MAX_RENDER_TIME },
+  { "max-render-time", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_MAX_RENDER_TIME },
+};
+
+typedef struct _ClutterContextPrivate
+{
+  ClutterTextDirection text_direction;
+} ClutterContextPrivate;
+
+G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (ClutterContext, clutter_context, G_TYPE_OBJECT)
+
+static void
+clutter_context_dispose (GObject *object)
+{
+  ClutterContext *context = CLUTTER_CONTEXT (object);
+
+  g_clear_pointer (&context->events_queue, g_async_queue_unref);
+  g_clear_pointer (&context->backend, clutter_backend_destroy);
+
+  G_OBJECT_CLASS (clutter_context_parent_class)->dispose (object);
+}
+
+static void
+clutter_context_class_init (ClutterContextClass *klass)
+{
+  GObjectClass *object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
+
+  object_class->dispose = clutter_context_dispose;
+
+  clutter_graphene_init ();
+}
+
+static void
+clutter_context_init (ClutterContext *context)
+{
+  ClutterContextPrivate *priv = clutter_context_get_instance_private (context);
+
+  priv->text_direction = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_LTR;
+}
+
+ClutterTextDirection
+clutter_get_text_direction (void)
+{
+  ClutterTextDirection dir = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_LTR;
+  const gchar *direction;
+
+  direction = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION");
+  if (direction && *direction != '\0')
+    {
+      if (strcmp (direction, "rtl") == 0)
+        dir = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_RTL;
+      else if (strcmp (direction, "ltr") == 0)
+        dir = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_LTR;
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      PangoLanguage *language;
+      const PangoScript *scripts;
+      int n_scripts, i;
+
+      language = pango_language_get_default ();
+      scripts = pango_language_get_scripts (language, &n_scripts);
+
+      for (i = 0; i < n_scripts; i++)
+        {
+          hb_script_t script;
+          hb_direction_t text_dir;
+
+          script = hb_glib_script_to_script ((GUnicodeScript) scripts[i]);
+          text_dir = hb_script_get_horizontal_direction (script);
+
+          if (text_dir == HB_DIRECTION_LTR)
+            dir = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_LTR;
+          else if (text_dir == HB_DIRECTION_RTL)
+            dir = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_RTL;
+          else
+            continue;
+        }
+    }
+
+  CLUTTER_NOTE (MISC, "Text direction: %s",
+                dir == CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_RTL ? "rtl" : "ltr");
+
+  return dir;
+}
+
+static gboolean
+clutter_context_init_real (ClutterContext       *context,
+                           ClutterContextFlags   flags,
+                           GError              **error)
+{
+  ClutterContextPrivate *priv = clutter_context_get_instance_private (context);
+
+  /* If we are displaying the regions that would get redrawn with clipped
+   * redraws enabled we actually have to disable the clipped redrawing
+   * because otherwise we end up with nasty trails of rectangles everywhere.
+   */
+  if (clutter_paint_debug_flags & CLUTTER_DEBUG_REDRAWS)
+    clutter_paint_debug_flags |= CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_CLIPPED_REDRAWS;
+
+  /* The same is true when drawing the outlines of paint volumes... */
+  if (clutter_paint_debug_flags & CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_VOLUMES)
+    {
+      clutter_paint_debug_flags |=
+        CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_CLIPPED_REDRAWS | CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_CULLING;
+    }
+
+  if (clutter_paint_debug_flags & CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_DAMAGE_REGION)
+    g_message ("Enabling damaged region");
+
+  if (!_clutter_backend_create_context (context->backend, error))
+    return FALSE;
+
+  priv->text_direction = clutter_get_text_direction ();
+
+  context->is_initialized = TRUE;
+
+  /* Initialize a11y */
+  if (!(flags & CLUTTER_CONTEXT_FLAG_NO_A11Y))
+    cally_accessibility_init ();
+
+  /* Initialize types required for paint nodes */
+  clutter_paint_node_init_types (context->backend);
+
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+static void
+init_clutter_debug (ClutterContext *context)
+{
+  const char *env_string;
+
+#ifdef CLUTTER_ENABLE_DEBUG
+  env_string = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_DEBUG");
+  if (env_string != NULL)
+    {
+      clutter_debug_flags =
+        g_parse_debug_string (env_string,
+                              clutter_debug_keys,
+                              G_N_ELEMENTS (clutter_debug_keys));
+      env_string = NULL;
+    }
+#endif /* CLUTTER_ENABLE_DEBUG */
+
+  env_string = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_PICK");
+  if (env_string != NULL)
+    {
+      clutter_pick_debug_flags =
+        g_parse_debug_string (env_string,
+                              clutter_pick_debug_keys,
+                              G_N_ELEMENTS (clutter_pick_debug_keys));
+      env_string = NULL;
+    }
+
+  env_string = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_PAINT");
+  if (env_string != NULL)
+    {
+      clutter_paint_debug_flags =
+        g_parse_debug_string (env_string,
+                              clutter_paint_debug_keys,
+                              G_N_ELEMENTS (clutter_paint_debug_keys));
+      env_string = NULL;
+    }
+
+  env_string = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_SHOW_FPS");
+  if (env_string)
+    clutter_show_fps = TRUE;
+
+  env_string = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_DISABLE_MIPMAPPED_TEXT");
+  if (env_string)
+    clutter_disable_mipmap_text = TRUE;
+}
+
+ClutterContext *
+clutter_context_new (ClutterContextFlags         flags,
+                     ClutterBackendConstructor   backend_constructor,
+                     gpointer                    user_data,
+                     GError                    **error)
+{
+  ClutterContext *context;
+
+  context = g_object_new (CLUTTER_TYPE_CONTEXT, NULL);
+
+  init_clutter_debug (context);
+  context->show_fps = clutter_show_fps;
+  context->is_initialized = FALSE;
+
+  context->backend = backend_constructor (user_data);
+  context->settings = clutter_settings_get_default ();
+  _clutter_settings_set_backend (context->settings,
+                                 context->backend);
+
+  context->events_queue =
+    g_async_queue_new_full ((GDestroyNotify) clutter_event_free);
+  context->last_repaint_id = 1;
+
+  if (!clutter_context_init_real (context, flags, error))
+    return NULL;
+
+  return context;
+}
+
+void
+clutter_context_destroy (ClutterContext *context)
+{
+  g_object_run_dispose (G_OBJECT (context));
+  g_object_unref (context);
+}
+
+ClutterBackend *
+clutter_context_get_backend (ClutterContext *context)
+{
+  return context->backend;
+}
+
+CoglPangoFontMap *
+clutter_context_get_pango_fontmap (ClutterContext *context)
+{
+  CoglPangoFontMap *font_map;
+  gdouble resolution;
+  gboolean use_mipmapping;
+
+  if (G_LIKELY (context->font_map != NULL))
+    return context->font_map;
+
+  font_map = COGL_PANGO_FONT_MAP (cogl_pango_font_map_new ());
+
+  resolution = clutter_backend_get_resolution (context->backend);
+  cogl_pango_font_map_set_resolution (font_map, resolution);
+
+  use_mipmapping = !clutter_disable_mipmap_text;
+  cogl_pango_font_map_set_use_mipmapping (font_map, use_mipmapping);
+
+  context->font_map = font_map;
+
+  return context->font_map;
+}
+
+ClutterTextDirection
+clutter_context_get_text_direction (ClutterContext *context)
+{
+  ClutterContextPrivate *priv = clutter_context_get_instance_private (context);
+
+  return priv->text_direction;
+}
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-context.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-context.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8bc2aa73a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-context.h
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2006 OpenedHand
+ * Copyright (C) 2023 Red Hat
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "clutter-backend.h"
+#include "clutter-stage-manager.h"
+#include "clutter-settings.h"
+#include "cogl-pango/cogl-pango.h"
+
+typedef enum _ClutterContextFlags
+{
+  CLUTTER_CONTEXT_FLAG_NONE = 0,
+  CLUTTER_CONTEXT_FLAG_NO_A11Y = 1 << 0,
+} ClutterContextFlags;
+
+typedef ClutterBackend * (* ClutterBackendConstructor) (gpointer user_data);
+
+#define CLUTTER_TYPE_CONTEXT (clutter_context_get_type ())
+CLUTTER_EXPORT
+G_DECLARE_FINAL_TYPE (ClutterContext, clutter_context,
+                      CLUTTER, CONTEXT, GObject)
+
+/**
+ * clutter_context_new: (skip)
+ */
+ClutterContext * clutter_context_new (ClutterContextFlags         flags,
+                                      ClutterBackendConstructor   backend_constructor,
+                                      gpointer                    user_data,
+                                      GError                    **error);
+
+/**
+ * clutter_context_destroy: (skip)
+ */
+CLUTTER_EXPORT
+void clutter_context_destroy (ClutterContext *context);
+
+/**
+ * clutter_context_get_backend:
+ *
+ * Returns: (transfer none): The %ClutterBackend
+ */
+CLUTTER_EXPORT
+ClutterBackend * clutter_context_get_backend (ClutterContext *context);
+
+/**
+ * clutter_context_get_pango_fontmap: (skip)
+ */
+CoglPangoFontMap * clutter_context_get_pango_fontmap (ClutterContext *context);
+
+ClutterTextDirection clutter_context_get_text_direction (ClutterContext *context);
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-event.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-event.c
index c6228715d..0af529c78 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-event.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-event.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "config.h"
 
 #include "clutter/clutter-backend-private.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-context-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-debug.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-event-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-keysyms.h"
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-input-pointer-a11y.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-input-pointer-a11y.c
index f2098bd61..d5a27e272 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-input-pointer-a11y.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-input-pointer-a11y.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "config.h"
 
 #include "clutter/clutter-backend-private.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-context-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-enum-types.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-input-device.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-input-device-private.h"
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
index 94898719d..4fe341bef 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
@@ -51,10 +51,10 @@
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <glib/gi18n-lib.h>
-#include <hb-glib.h>
 
 #include "clutter/clutter-actor-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-backend-private.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-context-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-debug.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-event-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-input-device-private.h"
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@
 #include "clutter/clutter-graphene.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-main.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-mutter.h"
-#include "clutter/clutter-paint-node-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-settings-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-stage.h"
@@ -80,12 +79,8 @@ static ClutterContext *ClutterCntx       = NULL;
 
 /* command line options */
 static gboolean clutter_is_initialized       = FALSE;
-static gboolean clutter_show_fps             = FALSE;
-static gboolean clutter_disable_mipmap_text  = FALSE;
 static gboolean clutter_enable_accessibility = TRUE;
 
-static ClutterTextDirection clutter_text_direction = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_LTR;
-
 /* debug flags */
 guint clutter_debug_flags       = 0;
 guint clutter_paint_debug_flags = 0;
@@ -96,48 +91,6 @@ guint clutter_pick_debug_flags  = 0;
  */
 int clutter_max_render_time_constant_us = 1000;
 
-#ifdef CLUTTER_ENABLE_DEBUG
-static const GDebugKey clutter_debug_keys[] = {
-  { "misc", CLUTTER_DEBUG_MISC },
-  { "actor", CLUTTER_DEBUG_ACTOR },
-  { "texture", CLUTTER_DEBUG_TEXTURE },
-  { "event", CLUTTER_DEBUG_EVENT },
-  { "paint", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT },
-  { "pick", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PICK },
-  { "pango", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PANGO },
-  { "backend", CLUTTER_DEBUG_BACKEND },
-  { "scheduler", CLUTTER_DEBUG_SCHEDULER },
-  { "script", CLUTTER_DEBUG_SCRIPT },
-  { "shader", CLUTTER_DEBUG_SHADER },
-  { "animation", CLUTTER_DEBUG_ANIMATION },
-  { "layout", CLUTTER_DEBUG_LAYOUT },
-  { "clipping", CLUTTER_DEBUG_CLIPPING },
-  { "oob-transforms", CLUTTER_DEBUG_OOB_TRANSFORMS },
-  { "frame-timings", CLUTTER_DEBUG_FRAME_TIMINGS },
-  { "detailed-trace", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DETAILED_TRACE },
-  { "grabs", CLUTTER_DEBUG_GRABS },
-  { "frame-clock", CLUTTER_DEBUG_FRAME_CLOCK },
-};
-#endif /* CLUTTER_ENABLE_DEBUG */
-
-static const GDebugKey clutter_pick_debug_keys[] = {
-  { "nop-picking", CLUTTER_DEBUG_NOP_PICKING },
-};
-
-static const GDebugKey clutter_paint_debug_keys[] = {
-  { "disable-swap-events", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_SWAP_EVENTS },
-  { "disable-clipped-redraws", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_CLIPPED_REDRAWS },
-  { "redraws", CLUTTER_DEBUG_REDRAWS },
-  { "paint-volumes", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_VOLUMES },
-  { "disable-culling", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_CULLING },
-  { "disable-offscreen-redirect", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_OFFSCREEN_REDIRECT },
-  { "continuous-redraw", CLUTTER_DEBUG_CONTINUOUS_REDRAW },
-  { "paint-deform-tiles", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_DEFORM_TILES },
-  { "damage-region", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_DAMAGE_REGION },
-  { "disable-dynamic-max-render-time", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_DYNAMIC_MAX_RENDER_TIME },
-  { "max-render-time", CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_MAX_RENDER_TIME },
-};
-
 gboolean
 _clutter_context_get_show_fps (void)
 {
@@ -182,77 +135,6 @@ clutter_disable_accessibility (void)
   clutter_enable_accessibility = FALSE;
 }
 
-static CoglPangoFontMap *
-clutter_context_get_pango_fontmap (void)
-{
-  ClutterContext *self;
-  CoglPangoFontMap *font_map;
-  gdouble resolution;
-  gboolean use_mipmapping;
-
-  self = _clutter_context_get_default ();
-  if (G_LIKELY (self->font_map != NULL))
-    return self->font_map;
-
-  font_map = COGL_PANGO_FONT_MAP (cogl_pango_font_map_new ());
-
-  resolution = clutter_backend_get_resolution (self->backend);
-  cogl_pango_font_map_set_resolution (font_map, resolution);
-
-  use_mipmapping = !clutter_disable_mipmap_text;
-  cogl_pango_font_map_set_use_mipmapping (font_map, use_mipmapping);
-
-  self->font_map = font_map;
-
-  return self->font_map;
-}
-
-ClutterTextDirection
-clutter_get_text_direction (void)
-{
-  ClutterTextDirection dir = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_LTR;
-  const gchar *direction;
-
-  direction = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION");
-  if (direction && *direction != '\0')
-    {
-      if (strcmp (direction, "rtl") == 0)
-        dir = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_RTL;
-      else if (strcmp (direction, "ltr") == 0)
-        dir = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_LTR;
-    }
-  else
-    {
-      PangoLanguage *language;
-      const PangoScript *scripts;
-      int n_scripts, i;
-
-      language = pango_language_get_default ();
-      scripts = pango_language_get_scripts (language, &n_scripts);
-
-      for (i = 0; i < n_scripts; i++)
-        {
-          hb_script_t script;
-          hb_direction_t text_dir;
-
-          script = hb_glib_script_to_script ((GUnicodeScript) scripts[i]);
-          text_dir = hb_script_get_horizontal_direction (script);
-
-          if (text_dir == HB_DIRECTION_LTR)
-            dir = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_LTR;
-          else if (text_dir == HB_DIRECTION_RTL)
-            dir = CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_RTL;
-          else
-            continue;
-        }
-    }
-
-  CLUTTER_NOTE (MISC, "Text direction: %s",
-                dir == CLUTTER_TEXT_DIRECTION_RTL ? "rtl" : "ltr");
-
-  return dir;
-}
-
 gboolean
 _clutter_threads_dispatch (gpointer data)
 {
@@ -494,98 +376,12 @@ _clutter_context_get_default (void)
   return ClutterCntx;
 }
 
-static gboolean
-clutter_init_real (ClutterContext  *clutter_context,
-                   GError         **error)
-{
-  /* If we are displaying the regions that would get redrawn with clipped
-   * redraws enabled we actually have to disable the clipped redrawing
-   * because otherwise we end up with nasty trails of rectangles everywhere.
-   */
-  if (clutter_paint_debug_flags & CLUTTER_DEBUG_REDRAWS)
-    clutter_paint_debug_flags |= CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_CLIPPED_REDRAWS;
-
-  /* The same is true when drawing the outlines of paint volumes... */
-  if (clutter_paint_debug_flags & CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_VOLUMES)
-    {
-      clutter_paint_debug_flags |=
-        CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_CLIPPED_REDRAWS | CLUTTER_DEBUG_DISABLE_CULLING;
-    }
-
-  if (clutter_paint_debug_flags & CLUTTER_DEBUG_PAINT_DAMAGE_REGION)
-    g_message ("Enabling damaged region");
-
-  if (!_clutter_backend_create_context (clutter_context->backend, error))
-    return FALSE;
-
-  clutter_text_direction = clutter_get_text_direction ();
-
-  clutter_is_initialized = TRUE;
-  clutter_context->is_initialized = TRUE;
-
-  /* Initialize a11y */
-  if (clutter_enable_accessibility)
-    cally_accessibility_init ();
-
-  /* Initialize types required for paint nodes */
-  clutter_paint_node_init_types (clutter_context->backend);
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static void
-init_clutter_debug (ClutterContext *clutter_context)
-{
-  const char *env_string;
-
-#ifdef CLUTTER_ENABLE_DEBUG
-  env_string = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_DEBUG");
-  if (env_string != NULL)
-    {
-      clutter_debug_flags =
-        g_parse_debug_string (env_string,
-                              clutter_debug_keys,
-                              G_N_ELEMENTS (clutter_debug_keys));
-      env_string = NULL;
-    }
-#endif /* CLUTTER_ENABLE_DEBUG */
-
-  env_string = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_PICK");
-  if (env_string != NULL)
-    {
-      clutter_pick_debug_flags =
-        g_parse_debug_string (env_string,
-                              clutter_pick_debug_keys,
-                              G_N_ELEMENTS (clutter_pick_debug_keys));
-      env_string = NULL;
-    }
-
-  env_string = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_PAINT");
-  if (env_string != NULL)
-    {
-      clutter_paint_debug_flags =
-        g_parse_debug_string (env_string,
-                              clutter_paint_debug_keys,
-                              G_N_ELEMENTS (clutter_paint_debug_keys));
-      env_string = NULL;
-    }
-
-  env_string = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_SHOW_FPS");
-  if (env_string)
-    clutter_show_fps = TRUE;
-
-  env_string = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_DISABLE_MIPMAPPED_TEXT");
-  if (env_string)
-    clutter_disable_mipmap_text = TRUE;
-}
-
 ClutterContext *
-clutter_context_new (ClutterBackendConstructor   backend_constructor,
-                     gpointer                    user_data,
-                     GError                    **error)
+clutter_create_context (ClutterContextFlags         flags,
+                        ClutterBackendConstructor   backend_constructor,
+                        gpointer                    user_data,
+                        GError                    **error)
 {
-  ClutterContext *clutter_context;
-
   if (ClutterCntx)
     {
       g_set_error (error, G_IO_ERROR, G_IO_ERROR_FAILED,
@@ -593,46 +389,15 @@ clutter_context_new (ClutterBackendConstructor   backend_constructor,
       return NULL;
     }
 
-  clutter_graphene_init ();
+  ClutterCntx = clutter_context_new (flags,
+                                     backend_constructor, user_data,
+                                     error);
+  if (!ClutterCntx)
+    return NULL;
 
-  clutter_context = g_new0 (ClutterContext, 1);
-  init_clutter_debug (clutter_context);
-  clutter_context->show_fps = clutter_show_fps;
-  clutter_context->is_initialized = FALSE;
-
-  clutter_context->backend = backend_constructor (user_data);
-  clutter_context->settings = clutter_settings_get_default ();
-  _clutter_settings_set_backend (clutter_context->settings,
-                                 clutter_context->backend);
-
-  clutter_context->events_queue =
-      g_async_queue_new_full ((GDestroyNotify) clutter_event_free);
-  clutter_context->last_repaint_id = 1;
-
-  if (!clutter_init_real (clutter_context, error))
-    {
-      g_free (clutter_context);
-      return NULL;
-    }
-
-  ClutterCntx = clutter_context;
-
-  return clutter_context;
-}
-
-void
-clutter_context_free (ClutterContext *clutter_context)
-{
-  g_clear_pointer (&clutter_context->events_queue, g_async_queue_unref);
-  g_clear_pointer (&clutter_context->backend, clutter_backend_destroy);
-  ClutterCntx = NULL;
-  g_free (clutter_context);
-}
-
-ClutterBackend *
-clutter_context_get_backend (ClutterContext *clutter_context)
-{
-  return clutter_context->backend;
+  clutter_is_initialized = TRUE;
+  g_object_add_weak_pointer (G_OBJECT (ClutterCntx), (gpointer *) &ClutterCntx);
+  return ClutterCntx;
 }
 
 gboolean
@@ -927,7 +692,7 @@ clutter_stage_process_event (ClutterStage *stage,
 PangoFontMap *
 clutter_get_font_map (void)
 {
-  return PANGO_FONT_MAP (clutter_context_get_pango_fontmap ());
+  return PANGO_FONT_MAP (clutter_context_get_pango_fontmap (ClutterCntx));
 }
 
 typedef struct _ClutterRepaintFunction
@@ -1165,7 +930,7 @@ _clutter_run_repaint_functions (ClutterRepaintFlags flags)
 ClutterTextDirection
 clutter_get_default_text_direction (void)
 {
-  return clutter_text_direction;
+  return clutter_context_get_text_direction (ClutterCntx);
 }
 
 /*< private >
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-mutter.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-mutter.h
index 8afe0f71e..4d9c5317c 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-mutter.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-mutter.h
@@ -44,27 +44,14 @@
  * various matrix calculations. */
 #define CLUTTER_COORDINATE_EPSILON (1.0 / 256.0)
 
-typedef ClutterBackend * (* ClutterBackendConstructor) (gpointer user_data);
-
 /**
- * clutter_context_new: (skip)
+ * clutter_create_context: (skip)
  */
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
-ClutterContext * clutter_context_new (ClutterBackendConstructor   backend_constructor,
-                                      gpointer                    user_data,
-                                      GError                    **error);
-
-/**
- * clutter_context_free: (skip)
- */
-CLUTTER_EXPORT
-void clutter_context_free (ClutterContext *clutter_context);
-
-/**
- * clutter_context_get_backend: (skip)
- */
-CLUTTER_EXPORT
-ClutterBackend * clutter_context_get_backend (ClutterContext *clutter_context);
+ClutterContext * clutter_create_context (ClutterContextFlags         flags,
+                                         ClutterBackendConstructor   backend_constructor,
+                                         gpointer                    user_data,
+                                         GError                    **error);
 
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
 GList * clutter_stage_peek_stage_views (ClutterStage *stage);
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-private.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-private.h
index 6afbf5eec..de6d54a95 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-private.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-private.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "cogl-pango/cogl-pango.h"
 
 #include "clutter/clutter-backend.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-context.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-effect.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-event.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-layout-manager.h"
@@ -107,45 +108,6 @@ typedef enum
   CLUTTER_IN_MAP_UNMAP   = 1 << 8,
 } ClutterPrivateFlags;
 
-/*
- * ClutterContext:
- *
- * The shared state of Clutter
- */
-struct _ClutterContext
-{
-  /* the main windowing system backend */
-  ClutterBackend *backend;
-
-  /* the object holding all the stage instances */
-  ClutterStageManager *stage_manager;
-
-  /* the main event queue */
-  GAsyncQueue *events_queue;
-
-  /* the event filters added via clutter_event_add_filter. these are
-   * ordered from least recently added to most recently added */
-  GList *event_filters;
-
-  CoglPangoFontMap *font_map;   /* Global font map */
-
-  /* stack of #ClutterEvent */
-  GSList *current_event;
-
-  /* list of repaint functions installed through
-   * clutter_threads_add_repaint_func()
-   */
-  GList *repaint_funcs;
-  guint last_repaint_id;
-
-  /* main settings singleton */
-  ClutterSettings *settings;
-
-  /* boolean flags */
-  guint is_initialized          : 1;
-  guint show_fps                : 1;
-};
-
 /* shared between clutter-main.c and clutter-frame-source.c */
 typedef struct
 {
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-settings.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-settings.c
index ec0c1545f..3601cb480 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-settings.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-settings.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <pango/pangofc-fontmap.h>
 #endif /* HAVE_PANGO_FT2 */
 
+#include "clutter/clutter-context-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-debug.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-settings-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-stage-private.h"
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-manager.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-manager.c
index bdb162929..4aaa7acfe 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-manager.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-manager.c
@@ -39,8 +39,9 @@
 
 #include "clutter/clutter-stage-manager-private.h"
 
-#include "clutter/clutter-marshal.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-context-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-debug.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-marshal.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-private.h"
 
 enum
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
index 33d387f2e..cb1890369 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 #include "clutter/clutter-action-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-actor-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-backend-private.h"
+#include "clutter/clutter-context-private.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-debug.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-enum-types.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-event-private.h"
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/meson.build b/clutter/clutter/meson.build
index cdb4debab..c87e7163d 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/meson.build
+++ b/clutter/clutter/meson.build
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ clutter_headers = [
   'clutter-colorize-effect.h',
   'clutter-constraint.h',
   'clutter-content.h',
+  'clutter-context.h',
   'clutter-deform-effect.h',
   'clutter-desaturate-effect.h',
   'clutter-effect.h',
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ clutter_sources = [
   'clutter-colorize-effect.c',
   'clutter-constraint.c',
   'clutter-content.c',
+  'clutter-context.c',
   'clutter-damage-history.c',
   'clutter-deform-effect.c',
   'clutter-desaturate-effect.c',
@@ -183,6 +185,7 @@ clutter_private_headers = [
   'clutter-blur-private.h',
   'clutter-constraint-private.h',
   'clutter-content-private.h',
+  'clutter-context-private.h',
   'clutter-damage-history.h',
   'clutter-debug.h',
   'clutter-easing.h',
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-backend.c b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
index f925a2f69..8982d2cd8 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-backend.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ meta_backend_dispose (GObject *object)
   g_clear_pointer (&priv->stage, clutter_actor_destroy);
   g_clear_pointer (&priv->idle_manager, meta_idle_manager_free);
   g_clear_object (&priv->renderer);
-  g_clear_pointer (&priv->clutter_context, clutter_context_free);
+  g_clear_pointer (&priv->clutter_context, clutter_context_destroy);
   g_clear_list (&priv->gpus, g_object_unref);
 
   G_OBJECT_CLASS (meta_backend_parent_class)->dispose (object);
@@ -1181,9 +1181,10 @@ init_clutter (MetaBackend  *backend,
   MetaBackendSource *backend_source;
   GSource *source;
 
-  priv->clutter_context = clutter_context_new (meta_clutter_backend_constructor,
-                                               backend,
-                                               error);
+  priv->clutter_context = clutter_create_context (CLUTTER_CONTEXT_FLAG_NONE,
+                                                  meta_clutter_backend_constructor,
+                                                  backend,
+                                                  error);
   if (!priv->clutter_context)
     return FALSE;