Launch of the International Initiative 2023 Prize!

By creating, in 2021, an International Award for Initiative in the field of puppetry, the Member Cities of the AVIAMA wanted to reward on an international scale those who, by an innovative action, contribute to highlight the puppetry arts, to defend their development and to encourage their recognition by a large public.

An international recognition

This Prize comes to reward those who encourage the puppet arts under all its aspects and in all its dimensions. AVIAMA wishes to draw the attention of the public, professionals and local governments to innovative and fruitful initiatives, which encourage dialogue, respect and the moral values of humanity, beyond differences and cultures.

The jury of the Prize for this second edition will be chaired by the city of Chuncheon, and composed of the cities of Saguenay and Plzen, as well as two representatives associated for their expertise, Mr Dadi Pudumjee, Honorary President of UNIMA and Mr Luk de Bruycker, founder of the company Theater Taptoe.

Dadi Pudumjee
Luk de Bruyker

Calendar

The AVIAMA International Award for the 2023 initiative will be awarded this year to an association (a company, a structure…) or an individual (artist, researcher, author, puppet lover…). Applications may be submitted up to and including Thursday 13 April 2023.

The Jury’s choice will be announced on June 28, 2023.

The rules of the Prize

To download the complete rules of the Prize.

RèglementPIA-2021_ENG

The City of Lights project in Tolosa (Spain) by Teatr Lalek Guliwer, 2022 Puppetry and Mobility Fellow

In 2022, the Polish company Teatr Lalek Guliwer received one of the AVIAMA Puppets and Mobility grants, to finance the mobility costs necessary for the development of their show “City of Lights” in Tolosa (Spain).

The genesis of an international project

“The City of Lights” is an international project that started in Poland. Created by the Chilean-Spanish puppeteer David Zuazola, its characteristic is that it can be developed in very different places around the world. The first show in the project was a co-production between Teatr Lalek Guliwer and Unia Teatr Niemozliwy, whose scenario was inspired by the life of the inhabitants of Warsaw, the Polish capital.

The first stage of creation took place in workshops open to the inhabitants: their ideas helped shape the performance.

“City of Lights” in Warsaw inspired Teatr Lalek Guliwer to create a similar project in Spain, in Tolosa.

A creative and participatory performance

The entire Spanish project ran from 18 October to 28 November 2022. The first stage of the project was a month-long series of workshops called “City of Lights Tolosa” with the residents of Tolosa, led by David Zuazola.

During the creative workshops, over 15 participants told stories about their city. Sharing their vision in a creative and visual way, they worked together to create the story and the scenography and “build” their dream city.

At the end of the workshops, the creative team of participants and David Zuazola were joined by Pawel Jaroszewicz, an actor from Teatr Guliwer. David Zuazola and Pawel Jaroszewicz then designed the sets and scenery, organised two rehearsals and gave seven performances, each with 40-60 spectators, including school children and their teachers.