Object Movement PUPPETRY RESIDENCY & FESTIVAL
2026-27 APPLICATIONS OPEN!

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026-27 RESIDENCY AND FESTIVAL ARE NOW OPEN!
APPLICATIONS CLOSE FRIDAY, JULY 31

Object Movement Puppetry Festival (OMPF) is a residency program for artists developing new works of puppet theater, culminating in an annual festival of short performances, curated by Rowan Magee, Marcella Murray, and Justin Otaki Perkins.

APPLY BY JULY 31!

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY

For twelve weeks in Fall and twelve weeks in Spring, a cohort of eight artists or teams meet on Tuesdays evenings at the Center at West Park (in residence at St. Paul & St. Andrew UMC) to share their progress with artists in the cohort and the program curators. The goal of these meetings is to provide conscientious feedback for the artists and a flexible structure for sharing work in progress. The residency concludes in two weekends of performances in which the works-in-progress are shared with the public.

OMPF is a process-oriented residency whose primary focus is to create a space for participants to refine their ability to give and receive supportive language. Through the residency, artists discover ways to expand their puppetry practice and strengthen their creative communities beyond the festival.

APPLy!

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The 2026 Object Movement Puppetry Festival will take place over two weeks from April 5—17, 2027. Each week features a different program of four original 10-20 minute-long works-in-progress and excerpts of longer works developed during the residency, with technical support provided by the Center at West Park. Each week will include a dedicated tech day for each of the four pieces, a dress rehearsal, and three performances.

The festival will provide a stage manager, lighting designer, and sound designer, marketing support, and box office services. Each lead artist or team will be paid an artist fee of $500 at the end of the festival, as well as receive a $500 budget for project-related expenses.

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Applications open: Monday, July 13, 2026

  • Applications due: Friday, July 31, 2026, at 11:59pm

  • Applicants notified: Week of August 10, 2026

  • Fall residency meetings: Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm from September 1 through December 15, 2026 (off Nov. 3 for Election Day and Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving)

  • Work-in-progress showing: Tuesday, December 8, at 7pm

  • Winter break: December 17—January 5

  • Spring residency meetings: Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm from January 4 through April 30, 2027

  • Festival dates: April 5—17, 2027

    • Program A performances: Friday, April 9, at 7pm and Saturday, April 10, at 2pm and 7pm

    • Program B performances: Friday, April 16 at 7pm and Saturday, April 17 at 2pm and 7pm

APPLY BY JULY 31!

Applications are open to all artists over 18 who live in the New York City metro area. Both experienced puppetry artists and puppetry beginners with experience in other disciplines are welcome. We are not able to accept applications from full-time students, or for projects being developed through another residency, program, or institution between September 2026 and April 2027. You may apply as an individual artist, a duo, or a collective/company. Please submit only one application per artist. Please note that OMPF does not provide a building workshop or housing opportunities and is not an educational institution.

We are seeking a diverse cohort of artists of different backgrounds and with different interests and experience levels within the realm of puppetry and object theater. BIPOC artists, LGBTQIA artists, and artists with disabilities are encouraged to apply!

APPLY NOW!