COVID-2020

MINI-RESIDENCY GRANTS 2020

The Jim Henson Foundation awarded 6 grants to theaters to support “Mini-Residencies” for puppet artists when theaters during the time that theaters were closed due to the pandemic.  Each theater chose artists who they were excited to work with. Please see below to learn about these artists and their projects.

NYC
These theaters received a $5,000 grant from The Jim Henson Foundation plus a $10,000 donation from Cheryl Henson.

Dixon Place awarded four puppetry residencies that took place between October 2020 and March 2021. Artists received $3,000 each, plus use of the theater, studio and other Dixon Place resources such as administrative and technical support, video equipment, IT platforms, etc. Dixon Place selected four exceptional artists who are deeply committed to the art of puppetry, each with very diverse work, backgrounds, and perspectives. Nehprii Amenii continued her summer/fall residency, which focused on documenting her process and the further development of HUMAN. Maria Camia ramped up the development of her Dixon Place commission NEW MONY, which premiered in the Spring of 2021. Joseph Lymous used this residency for the fabrication of puppets, costumes, and masks, and consultations with numerous artistic collaborators for the development of a new work, and Sifiso Mabena developed a new work: [sunflower], which premiered in Spring of 2022 and explores her experience of the modern African diaspora and Afro-Surrealism.

HERE’s Dream Music Puppetry Program used this funding opportunity to provide puppeteers with additional resources and support to develop projects. To accomplish this, Dream Music Puppetry Program hand-selected five artists to initiate and create new adult puppetry work. Like most Dream Music work, the pieces covered a range of themes around the human condition and existence at this moment in history. They also incorporated music and reflect a range of puppetry techniques, choreography, and object work. The artists ranged from the veteran to the newcomers and were: Lake Simons, Sara Outing, Andrew Gaukel, Christopher Williams and Tau Bennett.  Each artist worked with Dream Music Puppetry Program leaders Basil Twist and Barbara Busackino to tailor their residencies both in the theater and offsite over 5 months.

La MaMa launched their 59th Season, “Breaking It Open,” which explored how new works are created, performed, and experienced during a pandemic. The season revolved around development residencies that were customized to the specific needs and processes of each artist. As we experienced the social and economic consequences of COVID-19, La MaMa reimagined how they used their resources to support artists. Each residency was customized to suit the artist, their unique vision, and where they are in their creative work. Residents had access to La MaMa’s broadcast studios, rehearsal studios, and online technical support. La MaMa provided opportunities for the resident artists to interact, as they have found that when emerging and established artists are together, they learn from each other and these interactions can inform all of their work. Through the generosity of Cheryl Henson and The Jim Henson Foundation La MaMa invited five puppeteers to participate in their 59th season residency program.

NATIONAL
These theaters received a $5,000 grant from The Jim Henson Foundation.

Automata hosted a series of three in-depth individual artist residencies during Fall/Winter 2020-21. These two to four week residences supported the development of new object performance and puppetry projects. Automata provided each Resident Artist with full use of Automata’s space, an artist fee, general technical support, and a small materials budget. Each artist offered a public online event that could take the form of an artist talk, performance, documentation, or other form that supported each artist’s process.

Open Eye Theatre supported a redevelopment workshop and two-week public performance of BUG GIRL, a gothic shadow-puppetry show created by Liz “Howls” Schachterle and a puppetry team composed of Oahn Vu, Liping Vong, and Karly Bergmann. Additionally, Open Eye commissioned two “first draft” development workshops for new 30-minute puppetry shows for their summer Driveway Tour program. The Driveway Tour workshops featured BIPOC-led artistic teams creating new shows centering lead characters of color, supported by Open Eye with mentorship, artist stipends, and free workshop and rehearsal space.

Puppet Showplace Theater built on the successful model that was created for the Black Puppeteers Empowerment Grant to provide residencies for artists of color.


EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR PUPPET THEATERS 2020

The Jim Henson Foundation awarded 20 grants to theaters to help them through the COVID-19 crisis. The Foundation chose 10 theaters in New York City that are committed to presenting puppetry within their programming and 10 puppet theaters across the country to acknowledge with these grants. Please take a look at the wonderful institutions below and consider making a donation. 

Thank you,
Cheryl Henson

 10 New York City Theaters committed to Puppetry – $5,000

La MaMa
New York, NY

Dixon Place
New York, NY

The Tank
New York, NY

Flushing Town Hall
Flushing, NY

Symphony Space
New York, NY

Teatro SEA
New York, NY

 10 Puppet Theaters across the United States - $5,000

Automata
Los Angeles, CA

Open Eye Theatre
Minneapolis, MN