Honor Juneteenth with us and support the Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers, the only program of its kind in the United States.
We believe that it is vital that all children — and grown-ups! — have access to arts, especially art made by artists that look like them. However, systemic issues, including a racial wealth gap, historically unwelcoming spaces, and limited funding for puppeteers in general, have limited opportunities for puppeteers of color in America. We want to help change this!
Call for applicants to the 2023 Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers
“Human” by Nehprii Amenii
Puppet Showplace’s Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers has invested in new works by 15 Black artists since 2020 by supporting creative research at the earliest stage of production development. Each artist receives a $1000 grant and meets virtually with their cohort and cohort mentor; building community, skills, and connection while working on their project over a 2-month period.
Apply by July 20th!
This year’s Creative Residency will welcome a cohort of 5 artists, who will be supported by Residency Mentor Nehprii Amenii and Community Curator Tanya Nixon-Silberg — both alumni of the inaugural 2020 cohort! The Creative Residency seeks to diversify representation on our stage and in our field by welcoming Black artists from the Greater Boston area and across the country.
You can support this program by making a donation today!
“I am so happy to have the opportunity to continue to be a part of this intentional space for Black puppeteers.. Being able to help shepherd the new narratives — for us and by us — through puppetry, is truly exciting.”
Tanya Nixon-Silberg’s work in progress from 2020.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Creative Residency artists are doing great things:
Tanya Nixon-Silberg (CRBP 2020) was featured in the Boston Globe for her recent public art opening — which grew in part from the creative research she worked on during her Creative Residency.
Nehprii Amenii (CRBP 2020) directed Little Amal’s visit to the New York Public Library for the New Victory Theater, part of the internationally acclaimed Walk With Amal project. Her work “HUMAN” — which began development in this residency — will be shown at the Center for Puppetry Arts in 2024!
Anthony Michael Stokes (CRBP 2020) is the current 2023 Jim Henson Foundation O'Neill Artist in Residency and was awarded a Henson Foundation grant for his project The Scarecrow.
Zetta Elliot (CRBP 2022) published Book #4 in her Dragons in a Bag series and has continued her exploration of puppetry through adult virtual classes at Puppet Showplace.
Leah Lara (CRBP 2022) graduated in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design with a vibrant senior project: a fully staged puppet musical featuring more than a dozen performers!
Dey Hernández (CRBP 2021) used their Creative Residency to workshop scenes from Papel Machete’s On the Eve of Abolition, which has since gained support from the National Performance Network’s Creation Fund and was presented last fall for a work-in-progress run at Cara Mía Theater in Dallas, TX.
Dirk Joseph (CRBP 2020) was awarded a Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant for a new piece titled DEFRAG, premiering at Baltimore's Black Cherry Puppet Theater on October 28, 2023.
…and more!
“My Creative Residency cohort was a much needed source of creative accountability, support, and community. The time together had a huge impact on the artistic development of our work. It’s wonderful to see how the projects that were seeded in this program have now moved forward into the world in such amazing ways. I am so excited to rejoin this year’s residency as a creative mentor.”
