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The Ellen Van Volkenburg Puppetry Symposium

Conversations on Puppetry with the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival’s Ellen Van Volkenburg Puppetry Symposium Series

We hope you had a relaxing and joyful holiday season! As we step into the new year, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Ellen Van Volkenburg Puppetry Symposium Series at the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. These engaging panels, focused on the world of puppetry, will be livestreamed via HowlRound (details coming soon), with support from the UNIMA Research Commission.

We invite you to join the conversation and learn from experts in the field of puppetry. Be sure to stay updated by checking the details and tuning in to the symposiums!

All panels are free to attend!

Learn more and stay updated by following this link:
https://chicagopuppetfest.org/symposium/

Artist Panel Discussions:

1. The Puppet that Brings Us Together: Thoughts on Intercultural Puppetry Arts
Jan 18, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Featuring artists Peter Balkwill, Ty Defoe, Teng Teng Lam, Kevin Chio, and Dr. Paulette Richards.

2. Humans and Objects
Jan 19, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Panelists Pam Arciero, Julian Crouch, Choiti Ghosh, and Gildwen Peronno discuss humans’ roles in ecosystems.

3. Notes on Sounds and Words
Jan 25, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Craig Leo, Yael Rasooly, Paula Riquelme, and Anthony Michael Stokes explore sound and emotion in puppet theater.

4. The Image Aspect of the Puppet
Jan 26, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Alex Bird, Giulia De Canio, Plexus Polaire, and Josh Rice examine the puppet as both a kinetic object and visual image.

Let’s make 2025 a year of meaningful exchanges and growth for the global puppetry community!

UNIMA Research Commission