Animate / Inanimate – Apply Now for the 2026 Lìzé Puppet Art Colony Residency
British UNIMA is thrilled to share this open call from our friends at Lìzé Puppet Art Colony. Applications close August 31, 2025 (23:59 GMT+8)
Got a creative idea that needs time, space, and fresh perspective?
The 2026 Artist-in-Residence Program at Lìzé Puppet Art Colony (Taiwan) is now open for submissions! This unique opportunity invites artists working with puppetry, object theatre, performance, and cross-disciplinary practices to apply for a fully supported residency under the 2026 theme:
“Animate / Inanimate” — exploring the rich tension between life and lifelessness, object and actor, human and nonhuman.
About Lìzé Puppet Art Colony
Founded in 2014 in Yilan County, Taiwan, the Lìzé Puppet Art Colony is Asia’s first and only arts village dedicated to contemporary puppetry. Built on the revitalized site of a historic granary, it has become an internationally respected hub for puppetry creation, cultural exchange, and interdisciplinary experimentation.
The Colony houses professional rehearsal spaces, a puppet-making factory, artist studios, and a mobile puppet theatre — offering artists the rare chance to live and work in a space purpose-built for creative exploration. Since launching its Artist-in-Residence Program in 2017, Lìzé has hosted local and international artists alike, encouraging innovative work that connects deeply to community and place.
Residency at a Glance
Since 2017, the Lìzé Puppet Art Colony has become Asia’s leading hub for contemporary puppetry and object-based performance. Artists are offered professional facilities, accommodation, and a deeply inspiring natural and cultural environment in Yilan, Taiwan.
The 2026 program invites artists to ask:
What does it mean to give life to material today?
How might puppetry and object performance offer new ways of storytelling in a time of climate change, shifting subjectivities, and rapid technological transformation?
🗓️ Key Dates
🟨 Application Deadline: August 31, 2025 (23:59 GMT+8)
📢 Results Announced: By October 24, 2025
🖊 Confirmation Due: Within 1 month of acceptance notification
📍 Residency Periods:
Plan A-1: May 6 – June 2, 2026
Plan A-2: June 10 – July 7, 2026
Plan B: August 20 – October 20, 2026
🛠️ What’s Provided
Artist accommodation & shared creative spaces
Airport transfers (international artists)
Lunches (weekdays)
Creation & materials support (up to NT$20,000)
Mentorship & public presentation opportunities
Community outreach, open studios, or festival participation
✅ Who Should Apply?
Artists 20+ years old from any nationality
Working in puppetry, object theatre, or adjacent forms
Interested in creative research, experimentation, and community connection
Able to communicate in English or Mandarin
📌 How to Apply
Download the prospectus: Prospectus
Choose and complete the correct application form(s):
Submit via Google Form: Apply here
(Remember to upload all required files. Incomplete applications will not be considered.)
🎯 Contact for Questions
📧 lizepuppetx2.intl@gmail.com
📧 britishunima@gmail.com
🌍 British UNIMA is proud to support the global puppetry community by sharing international opportunities like this one.
Let your imagination come to life in Taiwan.
🎭 Apply by August 31, 2025.