Express Grants support rural organizations in their efforts to present Southern artists to their communities. Cynthia Garren, Director of Cultural Programs at South Florida State College, discusses SFSC's engagement of Bits N Pieces Puppet Theatre and the magic of puppetry.
How did South Florida State College engage Bits n Pieces Puppet Theatre, and why was this particular project meaningful?
Highlands and Hardee counties are located in rural, central Florida. Most people think theme parks and beaches when they imagine Florida, but our community is more small towns and citrus groves. South Florida State College Performing Arts is the only professional arts presenter in the region and it is important for us to educate and enrich our residents, especially young people, about theater, dance, music and other arts.
Partnering with the Heartland Library Collective, the Bits n Pieces Puppet Theater project took place in Avon Park, Wauchula, and Sebring, and engaged 33 young people in a free workshop to learn about rod puppets, create puppets, and perform in a puppet show with Holli Rubin, arts educator.
We then presented two free public performances of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Bits n Pieces Puppet Theater, which provided a delightful arts experience for children and their families. There is a scarcity of affordable arts activities for young people in our area and this project provided a professional, creative arts-making activity to our community and also introduced the art of marionette puppetry as an art form to our residents, young and old.
Can you share with us some comments from parents and community members?
Two parents had this to say:
"It was a wonderful experience, and I might also add educational. Looking around the audience and observing how captivated the young ones were was such a delight. We truly enjoyed the opportunity to have a conversation with the master puppeteer after the show. Thank you so much for having entertainment that was affordable."
"My kids and I thoroughly enjoyed the puppet show. Our family has been fans of all different kinds of puppets for years - watching shows and movies, going to museums and reading books about them - BUT to see a professional show LIVE was amazing! It was hilariously entertaining, as well as educational! We most enjoyed how the puppeteer showed us how he created the special effects and was willing to answer any questions the children had at the end of the show!"
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