unima_stands_for

1. Interdisciplinary artistic production.

Puppetry in its most contemporary form can be understood as performance with objects(sculpted, found, figurative and non-figurative) and images (formed of body, shadow, light, digital projections, live video etc). We call this 'Visual Performance' for want of a better term. Our festival provides a platform for new and experimental works of this nature. We actively encourage collaboration between artists of different disciplines and provide a context for this work to become a reality. Our festival now has an animation component which includes not only a full program of films but also practical workshops and exhibitions.

To be absolutely clear, we are not an organization which promotes and develops the use of only children's muppets, glove puppets and the like. This is not our focus although we do support quality children's theatre.

2. Training and development of previously disadvantaged theatre makers.

We run a year round program (called Active Puppets) in which we work with community-based theatre groups to develop and broaden their artistic and theatrical vocabulary (through training in various performance techniques including writing and structure, shadow, object manipulation, mask, Lecoq-style physical performance and more). We also train these groups practically in administration (buisness plans, budgeting, fundraising, registration and marketing). We collaborate with Ikwezi working with, amongst others, several of the groups who perform at the Ikwezi festival as well as with ASSITEJ SA. In the 18 months that it has been running, Active Puppets has provided such training to approximately 130 individual artists from 26 differend groups.

3. Arts administration training

This overlaps with point 2. In addition to the Active Puppets program, in the 3 years we have been registered as an organisation we have successfully trained 11 individuals in arts administration and management.

4.Audience development

By exposing large groups of people from different cultural backgrounds to a variety of performance styles we are developing interest in performance, theatre and the arts as a whole. In addition, young audiences are also a priority for us and the festival provides the opportunity for hundreds of historically disadvantaged children to see exciting theatre and make puppets for our exhibition (this is linked to teacher training in puppet construction and therefore the visual arts).

5. African artistic collaboration

UNIMA SA a leading member of the African Commission of UNIMA International and is working to develop inter-african exchange around visual performance. Strong ties have been established with other UNIMA centres in Kenya, Mali, Tunisia and Burkina-Faso. ASSETEJ has a well established network in Africa and, through our affiliation with the South African branch we are working to strengthen collaboration across the continent

otbfest-3
Mission

The mission of UNIMA SA is to promote the art of puppetry and visual performance in professional, youth, and children’s theatre, entertainment, education and development.

UNIMA SA works to establish local professional standards in the art-form through:
performance platforms
training
interdisciplinary artistic exchange
exposure to national and international artists.
support for emerging puppeteers

Our vision is see a widespread use of puppetry for social development. To ensure this we run:
youth development projects using puppetry
cultural exchange through the medium of puppetry
training for theatre groups to use puppetry in education

history-picHistory

Established in 1929, UNIMA (Union International de la Marionette) was the first cultural organization of UNESCO. It stands to encourage cultural interaction and world peace through the art of puppetry. UNIMA SA, established in 1972 has continuously worked to develop South African puppetry through encouraging the exposure of South African puppeteers to trends in the art form and the development of local skills. UNIMA SA formalised its constitution and registered as an NPO in 2005.

kid-picActivities

UNIMA SA’s activities include a variety of functions, events and meetings which aim at promoting and developing the art of puppetry in South Africa. Meetings and workshops are open to the public where training is provided. Talks and discussions between professionals are organized and professional training is offered. UNIMA SA researches and networks African Visual Theatre companies and prints a newsletter keeping members informed of developments in South African puppetry and visual theatre. Our most important activities are the Out The Box festival and Active Puppets.