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