It was further encouraged by UNIMA’s General Secretary, Mr. Dimitri Jageneau, with the aim of promoting similar global collaborations to unite centers worldwide in fostering peace and noble human values. This initiative has received the endorsement of the UNESCO NGO Liaison Committee and its current President, Mr. Nick Newland.

UNIMA Puppetry Collaboratorium: Fostering Peace and Understanding through Puppetry

UNIMA PC operates as a working group under the Humanitas Commission, emphasizing its role in advancing humanitarian and cultural goals through puppetry.

Objectives

• Global Collaboration: UNIMA PC seeks to create a platform where UNIMA centers across the globe can collaborate, connect, and advance the mission of UNIMA.
• Promoting Peace and Understanding: By fostering creative exchanges and collaborative projects, UNIMA PC supports UNIMA’s mission of promoting peace, understanding, and noble human values through the art of puppetry.
• Building a Global Community: We envision a global puppetry community where national centers work together to build friendships, networks, and advance the field of puppetry.

Structure and Governance

• Inclusivity and Supervision: UNIMA PC is designed to be accessible to all UNIMA centers and representatives and is under the direct supervision of the UNIMA Secretariat and the UNIMA International Board. It operates independently of continental or regional commissions to reduce boundaries between continents.
• Open Platform: Every UNIMA center or representative is encouraged to use this platform to initiate and engage in collaborations with other centers. The goal is to foster open communication and encourage active participation from all members, not just leaders.

Activities and Impact

• Successful Collaboration at SLUK Festival: The inaugural trial of UNIMA PC took place at the SLUK Festival, where it facilitated a successful collaboration between Irish puppet makers and Croatian institutions. This included presenting their work at the Croatian Puppetry Academy in Osijek and creating a Giant Puppet in collaboration with students from the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek and the Children’s Theatre Branko Mihaljević in Osijek.
• Workshops and Engagement: The festival also featured a workshop on stop-motion animation, providing an opportunity for students to engage in collaborative, ethical, and creative experiences. This initiative emphasized teamwork and friendship, showcasing the creative power of puppetry.

Vision, Mission and Values

UNIMA Vision:
UNIMA envisions a world where the art of puppetry fosters peace and mutual understanding among people from diverse backgrounds, regardless of race, political or religious beliefs, and cultural differences.

UNIMA Mission:
UNIMA is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to bringing together people from around the world who contribute to the development of the art of puppetry. The organization seeks to use puppetry to promote human values and respect for fundamental human rights, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations on December 10, 1948.

UNIMA Values:

• Peace
• Mutual Understanding
• Respect for Fundamental Human Rights
• Inclusivity (regardless of race, political or religious beliefs, and cultural differences)
• Noble Human Values

UNIMA PC is committed to upholding these principles and actively working to realize them in today’s world. Through these efforts, UNIMA PC aims to spread the love for puppetry, fostering understanding and connection across cultures and communities.

In today’s world, where cultural, political, and social divisions are increasingly common, fostering peace, understanding, and connection has become important. By transcending language, borders, and ideologies, this unique art form serves as a powerful bridge between communities. UNIMA PC unites diverse centers, promoting noble human values while encouraging cross-cultural dialogue, creativity, and friendship during a time when unity and empathy are needed. When people come together through creative expression, even small efforts can ignite significant transformations, bridging differences and creating lasting, meaningful impacts. This collective spirit inspires hope, strengthens communities, and shows that small actions can lead to amazing outcomes.

Follow Us

Stay updated and connect with us on social media:

• Facebook: UNIMA Puppetry Collaboratorium
• Instagram: @unima_pc

---