Allelu Award

Allelu Award – invitation only

Allelu Kurten, general secretary of UNIMA, presents 1987 UNIMA award to Jim Henson.

The Jim Henson Foundation established the Allelu Award in 2016 to honor our dear friend and longtime Henson Foundation board member Allelu Kurten. (April 16, 1930-May 21, 2016)

Allelu Kurten believed in the power of puppetry to bring people together. She loved attending international puppet festivals and traveled the world over to see great shows. As the general secretary of UNIMA-USA (1978-1992), Allelu was a great advocate for American puppeteers in the international community. 

The Allelu Award is a two part grant for international travel to perform in a puppet festival.  The first part is for a Jim Henson Foundation grant recipient to travel to a puppet festival of international renown to show their work.  Priority is given to shows that have received a Jim Henson Foundation Production Grant.  The second part is for an international company to perform at a major American puppet festival.  Each grant is $5,000.

When Cheryl Henson was visiting with Allelu in May 2016, they discussed the idea of creating travel grants to help artists be able to perform at major festivals. Allelu liked the idea and the Allelu Award was born.

Past Awards:

2021 – Sinking Ship Productions – A Hunger Artist – Festival Mondial des Theatres de Marionnettes, Charleville-Mezieres, France  September 2021

2021 – Virtual Presentation of International Artists – International Puppet Fringe NYC – August 2021

2020 – Nick Lehane – Chimpanzee – London Mime Festival, London, UK  January 2020

2019 – Basil Twist – Dogugaeshi – Festival Mondial des Theatres de Marionnettes, Charleville-Mezieres, France  September 2019

2018 – Wunderkammer – Cabinet of Curiosities – La MaMa 2018 Puppet Festival, New York, NY USA November 1-3, 2018

2018 – Wakka Wakka Productions – Made in China at the Go Figure – Internasjonal figurteaterfestival, Oslo, Norway  June 8-9, 2018

2017 – Plexus Polaire – Cendres (Ashes) – Puppeteers of America 2017 National Puppetry Festival, Concordia University St. Paul, MN USA July 18-22, 2017

2017 – Blair Thomas & Co. – Moby Dick – at the Festival Mondial des Theatres de Marionnettes, Charlesville-Mezieres, France September 16-24, 2017 


Questions?

If you have a question about our guidelines, you may be able to find the answer on our list of Frequently Asked Questions. You can also reach us at 212.439.7504 or info@hensonfoundation.org. It is best to contact us with any questions well in advance of the application deadlines.

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