Date of creation: 1959
Eggstrasse, 19
CH 9100
HERISAU
Switzerland
+41 (0)71 350 11 15
Presentation
Brief history
Founded on the basis of a working group, the association grew rapidly, integrating over the years a large number of amateurs and friends of puppetry. In the 1970s, puppet therapy grew to be an important element. Today the puppetry and therapy associations are integrated in UNIMA Switzerland. Ueli Balmer was a member of international UNIMA’s Executive Committee between 1969 and 1980 and Pierre Alain Rolle has served since 2008. Gustav Gysin participated as a member of the Publication Commission and has contributed to the World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts (EMAM), published in French in 2009.
Important projects and achievements
In 1961, the journal Puppets and Puppeteers was created and renamed Figura in 1992. The Centre has initiated the International Festival Figura in Baden in 1994 and also a programme of continuing training in 2002. It organizes several exhibitions on the puppet theatre in Switzerland. The last was entitled Matières d’Imaginaires, first shown in 2009, then in 2011 and 2013, in Tolosa, Baden and Neuchâtel.
