Call for applications – AVIAMA 2024 AWARDS – Puppets and Mobility

The International Association of Puppet Friendly Cities (AVIAMA) brings together cities and local governments around the world around the puppet, convinced of the importance of culture in their development. AVIAMA represents a genuine network for cooperation and exchange.

For the 6th consecutive year, AVIAMA is launching a mobility scheme for projects in the field of puppetry arts. The deadline for applications is midnight on Monday 15 January 2024. The results will be announced on Friday 19 April 2024.

Send the complete application by email to contact@aviama.org

Aims of the grants

They are intended for any person or company with a project involving : Training, Creation, Innovation and Research in order to encourage the development of the art of puppetry and object theatre, its innovation in the broadest sense of the term, while protecting heritage through research.

These grants help to cover the costs of mobility required for projects (travel and/or accommodation on site), which are often a barrier to the realisation of projects.

The project must be developed, as a priority, in one of the member cities, although in exceptional cases other cities will be accepted.

There is no age requirement, but the Jury will be particularly sensitive to applications from students or young professionals.

Presentation of the application – documents to be provided

  • A detailed, well-argued presentation of the project (3000 characters) in French and English
  • A detailed timetable for the project.
  • A provisional budget, detailing all costs and expected support (personal contribution, other grants, support in kind, etc….) from the applicant.
  • A detailed CV, outlining the applicant’s links, in particular with the world of puppetry.
  • A personal letter of motivation, in French and English, explaining in detail why this application is being made, what the applicant hopes to achieve, and how this could be shared or contribute to the sector.
  • A letter of support from one of AVIAMA’s member cities.
  • Any other letter of support that the candidate deems useful to enclose with his/her application.

No application will be validated without the above documentation.

The AVIAMA reserves the right to request further information and documents as it deems necessary. AVIAMA reserves the right to reject any incomplete application.

If you encounter any problems or have any questions, please write to communication@aviama.org.

AVIAMA Grant Rules

The complete rules for the AVIAMA 2024 – Puppets and Mobility Grants are available here:

EN reglement-appel-bourses-aviama-2024.docx

Initiative Award: presentation of the Trophy to the 2022 winner, Chernihiv Oblast (Ukraine)

The presentation of the Initiative Award was also an opportunity to present the Trophy to the 2022 winner, who was unable to attend due to the war in Ukraine.

This year, AVIAMA was able to welcome the General Director of the Alexander Dozhenko Regional Youth Puppet Theatre of Chernihiv, Mr Vitalii Holtsov, who received the trophy intended for the Chernihiv Oblast for its support for puppet theatre in times of war.

During the prize-giving ceremony, Mr Holtsov honoured us with a moving speech about the situation in his country, and the determination of his theatre and Ukrainian puppeteers to continue creating and presenting shows in theatres and on the street, and to keep this art alive for children and families despite the war.

Announcement of the Winners of the AVIAMA 2023 International Prize of the Puppet Theatre Initiative

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, through innovative action, contribute to highlighting the puppetry arts, to defending their development and to encouraging their recognition by a wide audience.

This year, it is intended to highlight a person, an artist or an association whose commitment to puppet theatre helps to advance the recognition of this discipline, to share it with as many people as possible or quite simply to put a special spotlight on this art that unites all the members of the AVIAMA…

This announcement was made by Claudine Ledoux, President of AVIAMA, during the 22nd edition of the Festival Mondial du Théâtre de Marionnettes de Charleville-Mézières.

The 2023 Winners : ○ The Chuncheon Puppet Foundation for organising the Cocobau Festival in the City, which has just celebrated its 35th anniversary. This festival has given an exceptional boost to the national and international visibility of this art form, its heritage aspect with a museum to be renovated in 2022 and now a regular professional training activity (South Korea).

Marionnette - Chuncheon
Marionnette – Chuncheon

○ A citizen puppet, the OTHER: a presence that embodies the raison d’être of our art and its ability to create links in Saguenay and elsewhere – Creation of the Compagnie La Tortue Noire (Quebec – Canada).

Marionnette - Saguenay
L’autre dans la cité / Martin Gagnon, Anne-Louise Imbeau, Patrick Simard

International recognition This Prize, in the form of an official Diploma, may be supplemented by financial aid if development is envisaged. Distributed by AVIAMA through its network of 21 cities on 4 continents, this Prize is a lever for the winners, giving them additional visibility with a wider professional network. It is awarded by an International Jury, appointed for three years and then renewed, which examines the applications submitted by the Association’s Member Cities.

Composition of the International Jury The International Jury was chaired by Mr YOOK DONG HAN, Mayor of Chuncheon (South Korea) and comprised Ms Julie DUFOUR, Mayor of Saguenay (Quebec – Canada), Luk de BRUYKER (City of Ghent – Belgium), Stanislas DOUBRAVA (City of Liberec – Czech Republic), Dadi PUDUMJEE (Honorary President of UNIMA – India).