Happy New Year from all of us at British UNIMA! 🎉
January Events, Scholarships & Urgent Deadlines
Hello,
We hope 2026 has begun with creativity, curiosity, and connection.
As we step into the new year, we’d love to draw your attention to a few important opportunities coming up very soon, including online events you can join from anywhere, and scholarship applications with fast-approaching deadlines.
BRUNIMA Online Talk — 15 January (Don’t Miss This!)
GO AFRICA: South African Puppets & Building Democracy
A talk with Alexej Vancl
🕖 15 January 19:00–20:00 GMT | Online
This international conversation explores puppetry’s role in democracy, activism, and social change in South Africa.
Please make sure you are logged into the website with your member account ahead of time — feel free to test the link prior to the event and do let us know if you need any help.
🌍 Also Online — UNIMA USA Event (11 January)
PUPPET ZOOMIE: Master Makers and Their Methods
With Dmitri Carter, Bradford Clark & Skye Strauss, moderated by Kathy Foley
🕔 5pm ET / 10pm GMT | Online
🎓 British UNIMA Scholarship — Applications Open
We’re delighted to be offering a fully funded place on the Canalside Lambe-Lambe Theatre Course 2026, delivered with PuppetSoup and the Puppet Theatre Barge in London.
🗓 Application deadline: 27 February 2026
This scholarship is open exclusively to BRUNIMA members and supports access to specialist puppetry training. Full details and the application form are available on our website.
Spotlight on Members — Meet Izzy Bristow
We’re thrilled to launch the British UNIMA Spotlight Series with an inspiring feature on Izzy Bristow — a brilliant puppet maker whose work blends expressive character design, meticulous engineering, and joyful storytelling.
👉 Read the full Spotlight on Izzy Bristow here:
In Conversation — Oliver Hymans
Associate Director, Little Angel Theatre | QEST Stanley Picker Scholar (2021)
We’re also proud to share an exclusive interview with Oliver Hymans, reflecting on how receiving a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) Stanley Picker Scholarship marked a turning point in his practice — and his mission to safeguard the endangered craft of marionette making.
📌 A highly recommended read if you’re considering applying for QEST or the Homo Faber Fellowship.
Events & Opportunities
UNIMA USA – PUPPET ZOOMIE
🗓 11 January 2026 | Online
👉 More info | Apply
Puppet Place — Directing Puppetry with Emma Williams
🗓 17–18 January 2026 | Puppet Place, Bristol
👉 More info | Apply
Theatre-Rites Workshop with Sue Buckmaster
🗓 31 January – 1 February 2026 | Shoreditch Town Hall, London
👉 More info | Apply
Smethwick Puppetry Festival
🗓 14–22 February 2026
👉 More info | Apply
Strings Attached The Art of Puppetry in Ditchling
Ditchling Museum, East Sussex, BN6 8SP.
🗓Saturday 28 March – Sunday 27 September 2026
👉 More info
Newcastle Festival of Puppetry – Moving Parts Arts
🗓 4–12 April 2026
👉 More info
Open Calls & Deadlines
Job opportunity with Karl Gallivan
Based in Central London
Trainee/Junior Animatronics position available
3D Design & CAD experience needed
CNC, 3D Printing, machining experience preferred.
🗓Deadline: ASAP
👉 Apply send you CV to karlgallivan@gmail.com
39th International Theatrical Festival “VALISE”
🗓 Deadline: 15 January 2026
👉 More info | Apply
BÁBKARSKÁ BYSTRICA 2026 International Festival of Contemporary Puppet Theatre for Children and Adults.
Festival dates: October 1-4, 2026.
🗓Registration deadline: January 15, 2026.
👉 More info | Apply
Pflasterspektakel 2026 — Call for Artists
🗓 Deadline: 15 January 2026
👉 More info | Apply
Flying Carpet Festival 2026
🗓 Deadline: 15 January 2026
👉 More info | Apply
International Puppet Fringe Festival (New York)
🗓 Deadline: 16 January 2026
👉 More info | Apply
AVIAMA 2026 — “Puppets and Mobility” Grants
🗓 Deadline: 16 January 2026
👉 More info | Apply
QEST Scholarship Grants
🗓 Applications open until 1 February 2026
Register for the Spring 2026 Zoom webinars below:
Scholarship Zoom Webinar: 20.01, 1-2pm
Emerging Maker Grant Zoom webinar: 21.01, 1-2pm
Apprenticeship Zoom Webinar: 22.01, 1-2pm
👉 More info | Apply
Istanbul Fringe Festival 2026
When: September 19–26, 2026
🗓Deadline: 31 January 2026
👉 More info | Apply
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 - Registration will open for the 2026 on Monday 12 January
👉 More info | Apply
BRISTOL EXPERIMENTAL PUPPET FESTIVAL 2026
🗓Deadline: 1 February 2026
👉 More info | Apply
OPEN CALL for the 38th Chuncheon Puppet Festival, one of Asia’s leading puppet festivals since 1989, 11 - 16 September 2026.
🗓Deadline: 15 February 2026
👉 More info | Apply
British UNIMA Scholarship — Lambe-Lambe Theatre Course
🗓 Deadline: 27 February 2026
👉 More info | Apply
British UNIMA is a volunteer-run organisation, and everything we do — from events and opportunities listings to member spotlights and community support — is made possible by people giving their time, energy, and expertise.
If you’re able to support us, we’re grateful for help in any form:
sharing opportunities and information we can add to our website, notebook, and social media
get involved as a volunteer — we’re always keen to hear from people interested in writing newsletters, reviewing shows, interviewing artists, or developing their social media and editorial skills
making a donation to support our Penny Francis campaign
upgrading to a paid membership, referring a friend, becoming a Friend, or even gifting a membership to someone else
And whether or not you’re in a position to upgrade right now, please know that we value all our readers and community members. Your presence, engagement, and sharing make a real difference.
Warm wishes,
British UNIMA
