The overall mission for the Puppet Centre Trust is ‘to develop and promote the art form of puppetry within the context of contemporary performance practice.’

In 2009 the organisation won a major award from Arts Council England to invest in the re-organisation of the business.  This activity will enable the Puppet Centre Trust to continue to re-shape its role to meet the needs of the fast developing puppetry sector.

In particular in 2009/ 2010 the Puppet Centre Trust will be 

* Organising master classes with  highly regarded visiting foreign practitioners
* Offering training and travel funds by competitive applications for practitioners at every stage of their careers
* Mentoring up to three emerging companies or artists on a one to one basis
* Organising open access industry/ business development days following consultations with artists and the sector
* Continuing the highly successful Graduate Residency Scheme in partnership with the Centre for Excellence in Theatre Training based at the Central School of Speech and Drama
* Continuing to produce Animations on Line and Animations in Print to support and engage with artists through successful publications with a relevant editorial content for the puppetry constituency, wider theatrical practitioners and educationalists.
* Working in partnership with theatres and development organisations to deliver projects nationally e.g . In 2010 the Puppet Centre Trust will organise, promote and deliver a large scale conference

The Board of Trustees includes:
•Professor Anthony Dean, Chair
•Brian Hibbitt, Treasurer
•Penny Francis, MBE
•Caroline Partridge
•Peter Charlton
•Jessica Bowles

NEWS FLASH: 4th International Student Puppet Festival at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London 5th - 8th May 2010. Applications now open!

See latest news for more details...

Animations Online: Animations is a quarterly online magazine run by the Puppet Centre Trust. It is a voice for contemporary puppetry and related arts, offering discussion and debate, reviews, and news from the puppet community and elsewhere. It’s an essential read for anyone interested in puppetry in all its diverse manifestations.

Library:
The PCT library is now housed at the Central School of Speech and Drama; Embassy Theatre, Eton Avenue, London NW3 3HY UK (Swiss Cottage Tube), which is now available by appointment, please phone: 0207 722 8183