International Puppet Center – Jacques Félix: Call for Applications for 2025/2026 Residencies

Open to artists, researchers, and recent graduates — Apply between April 14 and May 25, 2025

Creation Residency, Juan Perez Escala, Singe Diesel company, as part of the creation of the show Sueno (2020) ©DR

The Pôle International de la Marionnette – Jacques Félix is pleased to announce the launch of its call for applications for the 2025/2026 residency program.

Located in Charleville-Mézières, France — an international capital for puppetry arts — the Centre is a leading institution committed to fostering the development, research, and visibility of contemporary puppetry. Through a unique combination of training, artistic creation, and research, the Pôle actively supports national and international artists in their work, while strengthening the dialogue between creative and academic communities.

Who can apply?

The call is open to:

• Professional puppeteer artists (for the Creation Residencies)

• Recent graduates (within three years) of the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts de la Marionnette – Margareta Niculescu (ESNAM) (for Springboard Residencies)

• Artists working with early childhood audiences (for Nursery Residencies)

• Researchers, artist-researchers, and teacher-researchers engaged in theoretical or practice-based puppetry research (for Research Residencies)

Companies and individuals may apply to several programs but can only be awarded one residency during the 2025/2026 cycle.

Why apply?

Residencies at the International Puppet Centre offer:

• Dedicated time and space for creation and research

• Professional support from an institution deeply embedded in the field of puppetry

• Opportunities for public visibility and engagement with the local and wider community

• Integration into a vibrant artistic and academic network at the heart of Charleville-Mézières, a city renowned for its dedication to puppetry

Each residency is formalized by an agreement defining the hosting conditions and mutual commitments of the resident(s) and the Pôle.

How to apply?

• The call for applications is open from April 14 to May 25, 2025.

• Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of members of the Center’s permanent team.

• Selected projects will be announced by the end of June 2025.

• Application details, residency conditions, and selection criteria are available via the official website of the Pôle International de la Marionnette – Jacques Félix.
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We warmly encourage all eligible artists and researchers to submit their projects and join us in shaping the future of puppetry arts.

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