The UNion Internationale de la MArionnette (UNIMA) is pleased to announce the UNIMA Heritage Awards 2024/2025, recognizing exceptional contributions to the conservation of puppetry heritage. This year’s jury, consisting of esteemed members from around the world—Lucile Bodson (France), Kathy Foley (USA), Idoya Otegui (Spain), Dadi Pudumjee (India), and Nancy Staub (USA)—has expressed their satisfaction with the enthusiastic response received during this first edition of the second stage of the Certificates of Recognition.

This year, the jury meticulously reviewed numerous nominations and is proud to announce the following awardees:

List of Awardees

1. Antonio Joaquim de Santana – Master Calú – Mamulengo –  from Brazil
2. Alain LECUCQ – Paper Theatre – from France
3. Bhaskar Kogga Kamath – Karnataka string puppetry – from India
4. Chithambara Rao – Tholubommalata shadow puppetry – from India
5. Gunduraju – Karnataka shadow puppetry – from India
6. Lakshmana Pulavar M – Tholpava koothu,shadow puppetry – from India
7. Puran Bhatt – Kathputli string puppets – from India
8. Sadananda Pulavar –  Tholpavakoothu shadow puppets – from India
9. Professor I Nyoman Sedana, Ph.D. – Balinese wayang kulit – from Indonesia
10. I Made Sidia – Balinese wayang kulit – from Indonesia
11. Giampaolo Bovone – Associazione Peppino Sarina – Amici del burattino, Tortona – from Italy
12. Alfonso Cipolla – Istituto per i Beni Marionettistici e il Teatro Popolare, Grugliasco – from Italy
13. Roberta Colombo, Andrea y Mauro Monticelli – Casa delle Marionette, Ravenna – from Italy
14. Paolo Comentale – Casa di Pulcinella – from Italy
15. Piero Corbella Piero and Franco Citterio – Compagnia Carlo Colla, Milano – from Italy
16. Sergio Ravasio – Fondazione Ravasio – Museo del Burattino, Bergamo – from Italy
17. Giuseppina Volpicelli – Centro Internazionale Podrecca-Signorelli, Cividale del Friuli – from Italy
18. Vittorio Zanella – Teatrino dell’Es – Museo dei Burattini, Budrio – from Italy
19. Tsujimoto Kazuhide – Hakomawashi puppetry tradition – from Japan
20. Nakauchi Masako – Hakomawashi puppetry tradition – from Japan
21. Minami Kimiyo  – Hakomawashi puppetry tradition – from Japan
22. Nishikawa Koryu V – Kuruma ningyō – from Japan
23. Daejin Eum – Kkokdugaksi Noreum – from Korea
24. Ki-moon Nam – Kkokdugaksi Noreum – from Korea
25. Jeong-Im Park – Baltal [traditional Korean foot mask puppet play] – from Korea
26. Alejandro Jara Villaseñor – from México
27. Elizabeth den Otter – from the Netherlands
28. Robin Erik Ruizendaal – from the Netherlands
29. Betlem de Tirisiti – from Spain
30. Pilar Álvarez, Xulio Balado, Comba Campoi, German Ermida, Anxo García and Xaime Iglesias –  Morreu o Demo – Barriga Verde – from Spain
31. Anna Valls Passola – MAE – from Spain
32. Francisco J. Cornejo Vega – from Spain
33. Pepe Bable – La Tía Norica – from Spain
34. Toni Rumbau  – from Spain
35. James Webster – Karetao (Maori Puppets)from New Zeland
36. Jose Russo – Bonecos de Santo Aleixo – from Portugal
37. Charles Aulii Mitchell  – Hula ‘ōlapa (ancient hula) from Hawai‘i –  USA

We look forward to celebrating the achievements of these outstanding individuals and their invaluable contributions to the preservation and promotion of puppetry heritage around the world.

The Certificates of Recognition for the Conservation of Puppetry Heritage were initially launched by Jacques Trudeau in 2015, with the first awardees being Yaya Coulibaly, Danaye Kalenfei, and Were-were Linking.

The UNIMA Heritage Awards aim to promote and preserve the rich traditions of puppetry across cultures, fostering a deeper understanding of this unique art form. Stay tuned for more updates as we celebrate the artistry, creativity, and cultural significance of puppetry worldwide!

UNIMA Heritage Commission