Call for applications for practice as research residency, Abidjan, November 2026
Apply before 31 August 2026
CALL FOR APPLICANTS FOR PRACTICE AS RESEARCH RESIDENCY, ABIDJAN, NOVEMBER 2026
The UNIMA Commission for Training and Research would like to invite applications for a Practice as Research Residency to take place in Abidjan in November 2026. This initiative forms part of the priorities of the Commission to facilitate and enable research undertaken through practice as part of its 2025 – 2029 programme of work.
Puppeteers, scholars and practitioners engaged in research to further and extend research questions about puppetry, object theatre and related forms are cordially invited to send in proposals to spend two – three weeks in Abidjan to develop a practical research project. We are seeking funds to support travel but at this point recipients may need to fund their own travel or seek their own mobility funding for this.
The residency will cover: accommodation, space, materials and mentoring in Abidjan. Local arrangements will be managed by Ivoire Marionnettes and the Commission will be involved in selecting the applicant. The residency can begin from 01.11.26 or any date after that before 08.11.26. It is expected that the residency will last a minimum of two weeks. The recipient of the residency is invited to stay during the RIMA Festival (Abatta international Puppet Festival) in Abidjan and, if appropriate, to share their work at a forum within the festival.
You will be hosted in a local homestay, with space provided at Ivoire Marionnettes. You may develop a research project through practice on any theme providing that it is linked to puppetry object theatre and related forms.
Apply
To apply, please send a proposal to training-research@unima.org by 31.08.26. The proposal should include the following information:
A 300 – 500 research proposal, which identifies your research questions and enquiry, the methodology that you are using to develop the research (this must be through practice) and the rationale for carrying out this research.
A 200 – word biography
We look forward to receiving your proposals!