Center for Puppetry Arts facts for kids
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| Established | 1978 |
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| Location | 1404 Spring Street NW Atlanta, Georgia |
| Founder | Vincent Anthony |
| Public transit access | Arts Center station |
The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta is the biggest place in the United States dedicated to the amazing art of puppetry. It focuses on three main things: live shows, learning programs, and a museum. It is one of only a few puppet museums anywhere in the world. The center is located in Midtown, which is Atlanta's special arts area. Vincent Anthony started the center in 1978.
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Discovering the Center's History
The Center for Puppetry Arts first opened its doors on September 23, 1978. A very special guest, Kermit the Frog, and his creator, Jim Henson, helped cut the ribbon.
Vincent Anthony, a young puppeteer from Florida, learned a lot while touring with Nicolo Marionettes. By 1966, he wanted to be part of a smaller community. He moved to Atlanta with Mitchell Edmonds to start their own company, The Vagabond Marionettes. Vince dreamed of creating a place that would celebrate puppetry. They had a successful touring company that performed all over the Southeast. In 1978, Anthony found a permanent home in an old school building. That first year, the center showed puppets, put on shows for everyone, and held workshops. These activities still happen today.
Since it began, the center has worked to serve many different people. It reaches the community through its main programs: performances, the museum, and education.
On July 25, 2007, the center announced a new Jim Henson Wing. This wing would hold hundreds of famous Muppets. These included characters from Fraggle Rock, The Muppet Show, and Sesame Street. The new wing also has films and other items from the Jim Henson Company archives. This special part of the museum opened on November 14, 2015.
Enjoying Puppet Performances
Each year, the Center for Puppetry Arts puts on its Family Series. This series includes classic stories and new shows. The center's own company performs these shows using different puppet styles. Past shows have included "The Shoemaker & The Elves" and "Dinosaurs." The center also hosts traveling puppet groups during SummerFest. Many Family Performances include a Create-A-Puppet workshop. Here, kids can build a puppet related to the show.
The Center for Puppetry Arts also has the New Directions Series. These shows are for teens and adults. They feature artists from Atlanta and other visiting companies. The New Directions Series often has shows that make you think. Each show has a suggested age for people attending.
The Film Series shows "classic movies, hidden gems, and contemporary productions." While not live shows, they are films about puppetry.
Learning About Puppetry
Besides putting on shows, the center offers many classes and workshops. These are for both adults and children. Create-A-Puppet Workshops are held with Family Series performances. They let children build their own puppet that connects to the show. Adults can learn more about puppetry in the Adult Education Series. The Distance Learning program reaches students across the U.S. It offers a virtual field trip experience. Many programs and workshops are also available online now. You can watch them recorded or join live webinars.
Exploring the Worlds of Puppetry Museum
The center's museum and special exhibits display puppets from different times and countries. These exhibits help people understand and enjoy puppet performances even more. The Worlds of Puppetry Museum has the largest collection of Jim Henson items in the world. It also has one of the biggest collections of global puppets in this part of the world. Some puppets in the collection include Wayland Flowers' Madame and Skeksis from the film The Dark Crystal. You can also see mask prototypes from the Broadway hit The Lion King. Other famous puppets include Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot from Mystery Science Theater 3000. You can also find Jim Henson's Muppets like Rowlf the Dog, Ernie, Swedish Chef, Pigs In Space, and Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. The Museum also has a library filled with books about puppet art.
Awards and Recognition
The Ford Foundation chose the center as one of 28 national groups. They were recognized for their great management and new programs. The Kresge Foundation gave the center three different grants. These helped support its building projects. The center was also the only theater group chosen by the 1996 Olympics. It took part in all four years of their arts festival. Newsweek even called it "one of the most exciting companies in American theater." In 2008, the center's education team won the Microsoft Education Award. They were honored at the 2008 Tech Museum Awards. The center has received the UNIMA Citation of Excellence 13 times. This is the highest award in puppetry.
