Puppet Power 2025: Applied Puppetry Conference
Presented by W.P. Puppet Theatre Society (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) in partnership with Iowa State University Department of Music and Theatre
October 17–19, 2025 | Ames, IA United States & Calgary, AB Canada | Hybrid + In-Person
Presented by W.P. Puppet Theatre Society (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) in partnership with Iowa State University Department of Music and Theatre
GET CONFERENCE PROGRAM AND PRESENTER BIO'S HERE
Exploring Process, Practice, and Possibility in Applied Puppetry
Puppet Power 2025 comes to Ames, Iowa for the first time! Hosted by the Iowa State University Department of Music and Theatre, this international, hybrid conference explores how puppetry can be a powerful tool for problem solving, community engagement, education, therapy, and creative practice.
This 13th edition of the biennial conference marks a new chapter—offering in-person programming in Ames alongside parallel events in Calgary, Alberta, and virtual access worldwide. Whether you're a local educator, artist, student, community leader, or someone interested in learning more about puppetry, this is your opportunity to engage with the global field of applied puppetry—right here in central Iowa.
What is Applied Puppetry?
Applied puppetry goes beyond the stage. It is a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice that uses puppetry beyond traditional performance to support communication, learning, community engagement, and creative problem solving. It brings puppets into diverse settings—such as classrooms, clinics, community centers, and social service agencies —to help people explore complex ideas, foster dialogue, and imagine new possibilities together.
Puppet Power at a Glance
Puppet Power 2025 offers a rich mix of experiences designed to inspire and empower:
- Interactive Workshops
- Keynote Talks & Panels
- Research & Practice Showcases.
- Applied Puppetry Exhibit (Ames site only)
- Networking & Community Building Events
Iowa State University Site Schedule and Registration Links
For Calgary events and registration, visit: https://www.wppuppet.com/puppet-power
Listed events will notate the following important details:
Family/Youth Friendly Event and Hybrid or In-Person Only Event
Pre-Conference OCTOBER 4th
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Ames Puppet Power Community Workshop
October 4 | 10 AM – 2 PM | Ames Public Library
Family/Youth Friendly, In-Person Only Event
Join us for a puppet-building workshop as part of Puppet Power 2025: Applied Puppetry Conference! Drop in any time during the lab to craft puppets using provided materials and guidance from area puppet artists and educators. No experience? No problem! Whether you're a first-time builder or a seasoned puppet pro, this hands-on workshop welcomes all ages and skill levels. Puppets built during this event will be featured in the Community Puppet Parade on October 18—so come create and be part of the celebration!
Presented in collaboration with ISU Department of Music and
Theatre, Ames Public Library, and Octagon Center for the Arts.
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Conference Schedule: OCTOBER 17–19
Applied Puppetry Exhibition
Daily October 17 – 19 | NOON – 5 PM | Fisher Theater Lobby
In-Person Only Event
This in-person exhibition showcases applied puppetry projects from both here in Iowa and across the globe. Through photos, videos, written materials, and select physical artifacts, the exhibit highlights puppetry in action—used in learning environments, therapeutic settings, community engagement, cultural programming, and more. Visitors will discover the many ways puppetry serves as a powerful tool for connection, communication, and creativity.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17TH
Puppetry Foundations for Playwrights, Artists, and Innovators
Ideal for playwrights, visual artists, educators, and creative thinkers looking to incorporate puppetry into their expressive toolkit.
Hybrid Session One
4:45 - 7:15PM | ISU Student Innovation Center RM 2221
Part I: Animating Ideas: Puppetry Techniques and Storytelling Tools (4:45 - 5:50 PM)
Begin your journey into the world of puppetry with a dynamic introduction to foundational techniques. This session explores how puppetry can be a powerful tool in artistic and community settings, offering hands-on insights into movement, manipulation, and storytelling through objects and figures.
Part II: Story in Motion (6:00 - 7:15 PM)
Building on the foundations, this session delves into the dramaturgical principles unique to puppetry. Participants will examine how materials, space, distance, and focus can shape narrative and emotional resonance across theatrical, educational, and community-based contexts.
Presenters: Jen Shook and Amanda Petefish-Schrag
Hybrid Session Two
Puppetry in Practice: Artists on Story, Form, and Community Impact
7:30 - 8:45 PM | ISU Student Innovation Center RM 2221
Learn more about how artists use puppetry as a tool for creative problem solving and community engagement. In this panel, multidisciplinary artists will share how puppetry shapes their storytelling, fosters collaboration, and opens space for dialogue and transformation.
Presenters: Paulette Richards, Loyce Arthur, Putu Hiranmayena and Dewa Ayu Eka Putri
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18TH
All Events In-Person Only
Puppetry in Community, Film, and Global Dialogue
A vibrant day of puppetry in motion featuring events for artists, educators, and curious students of all ages. From a joyful community puppet parade to international livestreams and discussions. Saturday celebrates puppetry as a tool for storytelling, healing, and connection.
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Opening Session – Ames Community Puppet Parade
10:00 – 11:00 AM | Ames Public Library and Bandshell Park
Family/Youth Friendly, In-Person Only Event
Bring your puppet to life in a joyful community parade! Whether you built your puppet at the October 4 workshop at the Ames Public Library, at the Octagon Art Festival, or created your own at home, you're invited to join families, artists, and puppet enthusiasts in a colorful procession through Bandshell Park.
Presented in collaboration with ISU Department of Music and
Theatre, Ames Public Library, and Octagon Center for the Arts.
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Community Live-Stream Watch Sessions and Exhibit Conversations*
ISU Student Innovation Center RM 2221
Watch Session One | 12:00 – 1:10 PM
Tears by The River: Fostering Understanding and Empathy Through Puppetry from an African Lens
Fidelis Kyalo (Kenya)
Exhibit Conversation | Shadow Storytelling for Local Histories I Jen Shook I 1:15 – 1:40 PM
Watch Session Two | 1:45 – 2:55 PM
Puppetry as a Medium of Psycho-Social Animation | Karim Dakroub (Lebanon)
Break | 3:00 – 3:25 PM
Watch Session Three | 3:30 – 4:30 PM
Equipaje Minimo (Minimal Luggage) | Sonia Cristina Gonzalez Cebollada (Mexico)
*Exhibit Conversations are brief, live presentations that provide deeper context for selected works in the exhibit and offer attendees a chance to engage directly with presenters through questions and discussion.
Puppetry and Digital Storytelling - The Puppet Lens | Alex Griffin (California, USA)
3:30 – 5:30 PM | Fisher Theatre
A live demonstration of puppet filmmaking techniques.
Puppet Film Fest
7:30 – 10:30 PM | Fisher Theater
A dynamic showcase of puppet films curated by Alex Griffin (California, USA), featuring innovative works that push the boundaries of storytelling through performance, design, cinematography, and puppetry’s expressive potential.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19TH
All Events In-Person Only
Puppetry for Community Innovation, Collaboration, and Creative Exchange
Sunday invites participants into deeper conversations around puppetry’s role in fostering dialogue, community building, and artistic sustainability. With livestreams from Vermont, Toronto, and UNIMA International, plus panels and networking sessions featuring Iowa-based artists and organizations, the day fosters meaningful dialogue and creative synergy across disciplines.
Community Live-Stream Watch Sessions
ISU Student Innovation Center RM 2221
Watch Session Four | 10:30–12:15 PM
BABYLON (Film and Artist Talk) | Sandglass Theatre (Vermont, USA)
Watch Session Five | 12:30-1:00 PM
UNIMA International Applied Puppetry Commission | Terence Tan & Antje Wegener
Community Engagement Sessions
ISU Student Innovation Center RM 2221
Engagement Session One | 1:15 - 2:15 PM
Building Bridges: Community Arts Collaboration Strategies
This presentation and workshop explore actionable strategies for integrating the arts into broader community initiatives. Participants will gain practical tools for fostering engagement, promoting community partnership, and amplifying community impact through arts-based approaches.
Presenter: Vivian Cook
Engagement Session Two | 2:30 – 3:45 PM
Regional Voices in Action: Puppet Roundtable
Join regional puppet artists for a dynamic roundtable discussion. Participants will share insights on building community through puppetry, securing funding, navigating local arts ecosystems, and sustaining creative practice. A space for dialogue, inspiration, and connection.
Presenters: Brant Bollman, Stephanie Vallez, Beth Weninger
Engagement Session Three | 3:45 – 5:00 PM
Creative Connections: Community Meet and Greet
An informal networking opportunity for local artists, puppeteers, and community organizations to connect, share resources, and spark future collaborations. Whether you're looking to partner on a project or simply meet others in the field, this session is designed to build bridges and foster creative synergy.
REGISTRATION LINKS
FRIDAY SESSIONS
Friday (virtual) - REGISTER
Friday (in-person) - REGISTER
SATURDAY & SUNDAY SESSIONS
Saturday & Sunday (all in-person) - REGISTER
Please Note:
- Advanced registration is not required for the Community Puppet Parade or Puppet Film Fest.
Conference Resources & Updates
• For virtual offerings and post-conference access to recorded sessions from our partner site in Calgary, Alberta, visit https://www.wppuppet.com
• Additional panelist and presenter information for the Ames site will be posted in mid-September.
Local Support and Partnership
The Ames conference programming for Puppet Power 2025 is made possible through the generous support of the Iowa State University Center for the Arts and Humanities, as well as our local community partners: Ames Public Library and the Octagon Center for the Arts.
Want to explore virtual offerings from our partner site in Calgary, Alberta? Stay tuned to https://www.wppuppet.com for updates and full program details. Early bird registration for Calgary events is open now — save your spot before September 15!"
