UNIMA

Perth wins the bid to host the 20th UNIMA Congress in 2008

Posted by hil

The following is a press release from the Western Australian government dated June 25th, 2004:

Perth beats China and Switzerland to win World Puppetry Congress and Festival

From the Hon. Bob Kucera, MLA, Minister for Tourism; Small Business; Sport and Recreation; Peel and the South West:

Western Australia will host the 20th Union International De La Marionette (UNIMA) World Puppet Festival and International Congress in 2008.

Tourism Minister Bob Kucera said that more than 1,000 participants from interstate and overseas, as well as thousands of Western Australians, were expected to converge on the new Perth Convention Exhibition Centre for the 10-day festival.v

“This is a major coup for the arts and cultural industry as well as the tourism industry in WA,” Mr Kucera said.

“It was a highly competitive bid won against Switzerland and China, and is a first for Australia.

“To have secured such a unique and prestigious cultural event shows that WA is a desirable destination for traditionally European-focused events.

“Hosting international events like the World Puppet Festival and Congress showcases WA as a culturally rich and diverse tourist destination.

“The festival will also give Western Australians the opportunity to see some of the world’s best puppetry performances throughout the city.”

The bid for the 2008 World Puppetry Congress and Festival was secured jointly by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre (on behalf of UNIMA Australia), EventsCorp, a division of the Western Australian Tourism Commission, the Perth Convention Bureau and the City of Perth.

The event, to be held mid-year in 2008, combines a congress and a festival.

Mr Kucera said that the State Government, through a partnership between the Perth Convention Bureau and EventsCorp, would provide funding of $130,000, and the event was expected to generate about $9million in combined direct expenditure for WA.

The event, which is held every four years, was in Croatia this year, with puppetry companies and artists from Vietnam, Norway, Japan, Germany, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, France and Canada in attendance.

Minister’s Office – 9213 7000

Australian Puppeteer Magazine call for reviews

Posted by hil

The Australian Puppeteer Magazine looks at national, international and historical puppetry news and events, reviews, and philosophical and technical discussions. You can recieve your copy by joining UNIMA Australia. The Winter edition of the magazine is due out soon, and the editor invites those of you who have attended recent puppetry performances to review them for the magazine. Please forward reviews to the editor. The deadline is June 10th, 2004.

Gardner Puppet Theatre

Posted by hil

In Victoria people are doing individual things to celebrate World Puppetry Day this year. Lorrie Gardner, Australian president of UNIMA, has received some coverage in a local paper for the day and her plans to celebrate it:

Maroondah Leader, March 16, 2004 : Puppeteers have own special day

“Ringwood East puppeteer, Lorrie Gardner, says next week’s World Puppetry Day will be a celebration of puppetry and its contribution to the arts. Gardner, the Australian president of the Union International de la Marionette, said the day aimed to raise awareness of puppetry.

“The idea is to call attention to the art form of puppetry to the general public,” Gardner said.

Gardner, who has been involved in the field for more than 30 years, said the world puppetry day would grow. “This is only the second year we’ve had the World Puppetry Day, so it’s just getting started,” Gardner said. “Last year, unfortunately on the day, we went to war so it overshadowed it.”

To celebrate the event, Gardner will perform on Monday, March 22 at Catjump Pre-school, Doncaster. For further details on World Puppetry Day phone 9870 8998.”

World Puppetry Day : March 21

Posted by hil

Activities are being organized internationally to celebrate World Puppetry Day on March 21st. The day is to celebrate and recognize the art of puppetry, and our association, UNIMA. Sirppa Sivori-Asp, (Finnish actress, director of puppet theatre, drama, opera and television, ex-President of UNIMA International), has written an international message for World Puppetry Day.

Puppeteers and people interested and involved in puppetry are invited to organize their own celebrations of WPD. You can email information to me for inclusion (take the ‘about me’ link at the top right-hand of the page), and check in here over the next few weeks to see what others are planning.

Do use the ‘comment’ facility below posts to add details or to respond to ideas and plans, too.

75th Anniversary of UNIMA

Posted by hil

Yep, this year Union Internationale de la Marionnette, (UNIMA) is celebrating its 75th anniversary, making it the oldest theatrical association in the world.

The anniversary coincides with the 19th UNIMA World Congress which is to be held in Opatija, Croatia, from 7th to 11th June 2004, while the accompanying International Puppet Festival will be held in Rijeka from 6th to 12th June 2004.

Just a reminder too, that March 31st is the deadline for registration. Registration for the congress includes admittance to all shows accompanying the festival. There is also an option to register for attending the International Puppet Festival only, without participation in the work of the congress. The theme of the festival will be water in all its metaphorical and literal meanings.

New domain for UNIMA Australia

Posted by hil

UNIMA Australia, the Australian branch of Union Internationale de la Marionnette has recently moved to its own domain. UNIMA is an international organisation bringing together people from around the world to contribute to the development of the art of puppetry, and to use it in the pursuit of human values such as peace and mutual understanding between peoples.