From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Mathieu_Ren=E9?= <creaturiste-AT-magma.ca>
To: <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Attracting people to festivals
Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 18:05:54 -0400


I went to my first puppetry festival last September. So my experience is 
short. But I have taken notice of some efforts to change the audience, and 
the comments the changes were provoking.


I was told their goal was to make the festival more family friendly : 
accessible to school groups and kindergardens and daycare.

1) moving the date of the festival: from originally the end of July, to now 
in beginning September.
2) kids shows and activities were during the morning and afternoon.
3) adult shows, discussions and activities were held at night.

I've heard good comments from the new target audience. The kids shows I've 
been to were fully packed. The atmosphere was great.

>From the puppetry community, I've heard less praises, more disapointments, 
and some disputes.
According to people who have been there since the beggining, there is a lack 
of funding, the show selection is reduced in number and in quality, there 
are less activities, and the whole festival is becoming a totally touristic 
adventure, at the expense of the Art.
Who's to blame? Some say the artistic direction, some say the public lacks 
interest, some say the municipality is not supporting the event, , and some 
say all of the above. In all situations, there will always be those who say 
"I miss the good old days". I believe the puppeteers who say so about this 
particular case do, from their enthusiastic descriptions of the huge outdoor 
shows, the invited foreign puppet companies, the talks and memorable 
encounters of past editions.

All I know from my own experience and encounters, is that some of the 
direction's efforts were appreciated by some of the target audience. I 
believe these ideas could be used for other festivals.

I now know where and when in time and space to go when I find a time 
machine. Until then' I'll get involved in what way I can, to help making 
another puppet festival possible, and make this one great for everybody.



Mathieu René Créaturiste
Marionnettes, Masques, Etcetera...
Puppets, Masks, Etcetera...
creaturiste-AT-magma.ca
www.creaturiste.com
(514) 274-8027 

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