The art of puppetry is an art that has been known and recognized since the dawn of time across different regions of the world. Even if today puppet shows appeal to children more, the fact remains that the puppet is one of the most suitable instruments of expression and communication and a favorable ground for the promotion of artistic skills such as drawing, editing, writing, sewing and any other technique necessary for this art.
In Tunisia, puppetry art exists but it does not find a fair echo although, historically, it is rooted in the cultural identity of the country. To make up for this lack, highlight, promote and give this art back its true place, an annual festival for the general public is held: Carthage Days of Puppetry Arts (CDPA/JAMC)
Supported by the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, under the patronage of the National Establishment for the Promotion of Festivals and Cultural and Artistic Events, this initiative is managed by an organizing committee in charge of the development and the execution of the program. It is open to both Tunisian and foreign puppeteers.
The CDPA/JAMC aim to :
➢ Promote puppetry art in Tunisia.
➢ Promote the main Tunisian works in puppetry art and highlight the Tunisian experience in this field.
➢ Enable the Tunisian public and other to learn about puppetry art in the world.
➢ Create a market that will allow the Tunisian creation in terms of puppetry to make itself known both inside and outside the country;
➢ Promote Tunisian civilizational and heritage characteristics to develop the tourism sector.
➢ Establish networks between actors in the field and puppeteering structures and events around the world.
CDPA/JAMC program has several axes including:
➢ Puppet shows of all shapes and expressions.
➢ Artistic workshops dealing with the techniques of puppetry art (texts, drawings, puppets making and manipulation, preparation of the puppet accessory components).
➢ Training sessions in puppetry supervised by Tunisian and foreign experts.
➢ Seminars and debates on children’s theater, in particular puppet theater.
➢ Exhibitions, documentaries and scenography on puppetry career and achievement in Tunisia and abroad.
➢ Street animation to promote the festival dimension and extend the impact of the event.
For the first session, Carthage Puppetry Arts Days will be held in Tunis from September 22 to 29, 2018, with decentralization in certain regions (regional shows are possible for future editions) hoping to reach 20 thousand spectators through seventy (70) performances and sixty (60) companies.
It should be noted that this first edition coincides with the inauguration of the Cité de la Culture, the 25th anniversary of the National Center of Puppetry Arts (CNAM/NCPA), and the 40th anniversary of the first professional puppetry company (TMT/PPC)
