Since 2018, several actors in the puppetry arts in Europe have formed an informal network for exchange and reflection, entitled “Puppet.Net” and coordinated by UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette).

In 2020, they decided to put the results of these exchanges into practice in the form of a European mobility project enabling young puppeteers from all backgrounds to acquire professional skills, broaden their knowledge of puppetry arts practice and reflect its diversity at European level.

As a result, the project had to be rethought. Le Tas de Sable – Ches Panses Vertes has therefore launched an experimental project in 2022, paving the way for larger-scale European cooperation on the training and professionalisation of puppetry artists in subsequent years.

 

Aims of the project

This project aimed to:

• Experiment with new continuing education schemes for puppetry artists.
• The development of a common reflection on the professional structuring of the field of puppetry arts.
• Updating the link between training and professional integration. EVOC must be the place to reflect on this particular junction in the life of puppetry artists.

 

Outcome of the project

Two groups met for a year to discuss the subjects of pedagogy and professionalisation.

Each of these working groups, enriched by the valuable contributions of the young puppetry artists selected to take part in the project, finalised two booklets summarising each of the proposed approaches (in French and English).

• For a pedagogy of ‘sharing’ > English / French
• A two-voice conversation on professionalisation: young puppeteers and organisations in the puppetry arts > English / French

 

Process

Four transnational meetings brought together the project partners:

> 3 and 4 March 2022: Coordination meeting hosted by TOPIC in Tolosa (Spain)

> 12 and 13 July 2022: Pedagogy meeting hosted by Teatro Gioco Vita in Piacenza (Italy)

> 29 and 30 September 2022: Meeting dedicated to professionalisation and professional integration hosted by the Centre de la puppetry de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles in Tournai (Belgium)

> 8 and 9 December 2022: Review meeting hosted by Tas de Sable – Ches Panses Vertes in Rivery (France).

As for the puppeteers, after a first workshop held in Thessaloniki from 4 to 10 July 2022, hosted by the Synkoino Cooperative and supervised by Sylvie Baillon and Stathis Markopoulos, the second workshop took place at the Ljublijana Puppetry Theatre from 5 to 11 October 2022, supervised by Fabrizio Montecchi and Martina Mauric Lazar.

 

This experimental project was the subject of an application for European funding under Erasmus+.

EU results platform:

https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/search/details/2021-2-FR01-KA210-VET-000049330