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THE ASEAN PUPPETS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

BACKGROUND

Puppetry has existed in Asia for approximately 4000 years and continues to thrive in South-east Asia in many

forms and for various purposes. The art form’s resilience and versatility allows artists to educate and entertain audiences of all ages in numerous environments such as schools, hospitals, villages, and theatres, by re-engineering and presenting natural or upcycled materials in an imaginative and engaging way. Puppetry employs skills such as craftsmanship, visual art, staging, literature, song, and performance, and therefore appeals to many people of various interests and aptitudes.

For these reasons, puppetry remains an important and sustainable art form in South-east Asia, as a presentation of its peoples’ heritages, an experimental platform for contemporary cultures and stories, and for the personal and social development of its communities.

The ASEAN Puppetry Association (APA), formed on 1 December 2006, was established for the regional cooperation among ASEAN’s member states in the field of puppetry. It was formed with the common directives to bridge South-east Asia’s cultural differences and develop an understanding and appreciation for South-east Asia in spite of the

presence of the new mass media. It also serves as a repository of ASEAN’s member states’ cultures, while at the same time encourages co-operation and co-existence between them.

The ASEAN Foundation has been a partner of APA since its establishment. It is committed to supporting APA’s work to promote the role of puppetry in the ASEAN Community building process and to ensure that ASEAN peoples appreciate the diversity of its cultural heritage.

The ASEAN Puppets Exchange Programme (APEX) is an initiative of the ASEAN Puppetry Association (APA) through its Singaporean member, Artsolute. This programme is built on APA’s eight years of achievement of cooperation by developing a new thrust, whereby its next generation members are planning a series of exchanges between ASEAN’s puppet artists. This is meant to promote some cultural and technical exchange while developing a management scheme for APA’s future intra-ASEAN efforts.

APA’s three year plan is to develop a One ASEAN production team by 2015, incorporating APA’s members in a fair, efficient, and meaningful way to produce an intra-ASEAN puppet production and tour by late 2016 or 2017 in time for ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary.

OBJECTIVES

The goals of the APEX sessions are:

• To introduce and attract more of ASEAN’s people to ASEAN’s diverse cultures through the art of traditional puppetry

• To raise the skills, innovation and sustainability of ASEAN’s puppeteers so they are of significant cultural and artistic influence in their societies

• To widen and strengthen the cooperative network of APA throughout the region so as to widen its outreach and impact for ASEAN.

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS

No Country Organisation(s)1 Brunei Darussalam Penggiat Seni Tanah Air Brunei

(PeSTAB)2 Cambodia Cambodia Living Arts,

Sovanna Phum Art Association3 Indonesia SENA WANGI,

PEPADI4 Lao PDR Jampalao/ Vulnerable Youth

Development Association (VYDA)

5 Malaysia Malaysia Puppet Association, PESIBAN, Kaki Seni

6 Myanmar Myanmar Marionette Association, Htwe Oo Myanmar

7 The Philippines Mr. Juancho ‘Wanlu’ Lunaria, Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas

8 Singapore Mascots and Puppets Specialists, Sri Warisan Som Said, Mr. Pang Tong Teng, Artsolute

9 Thailand Joe Louis Theater, Semathai

10 Viet Nam The National Puppet Theatre of Vietnam

Vietnamese Puppet.

APEX in The Philippines.

APEX performance in Resort World Manila, Philippines.

Group photo with Puppet Performers.

STRATEGY

For ASEAN’s puppeteers to come together, two areas need to be developed.

First, there needs to be the platforms to host these exchanges. This includes the venue, audience, accommodations, honorariums, and travel and transport arrangements. This may be financed through sponsors, sponsors-in-kind, or through state support.

Second, there needs to be the development of an acceptance and appreciation of each other’s’ crafts, traditions and artistic directions no matter the variances and disparities. Without which, no genuine collaboration can surface, as one cultural partner of greater development and deeper heritage may end up dominating the other. The way to this is having moderators and dramaturges that help mediate with understanding of the history, cultures and goals of participating artists.

The exchanges will comprise of the following activities and needs:• Visits to other members’ studios and

communities to understand the host members’ economical, social, and cultural backgrounds

• Week-long workshops for artists to share skills,

knowledge, designs, and perspectives with each other

• Workshops should encompass a social goal, such as providing education or relief to communities, as well as promote ASEAN awareness

• These activities and goals should provide an opportunity for large and small sponsors of venues, transportation, useable art materials, food and accommodations etc, to present their involvement and consideration for communities

• Supervision and documentation of the processes and outcomes by APA for analysis, promotion, and management

• The exchanges should involve 5-15 participants from each member state, with 2-4 observers and supervisors from APA

Eventually, the One ASEAN team would consist of members with various skills and responsibilities in production management, production design, directing and stage management, casting, promotions and public relations, and dramaturgy. APA’s office bearers will supervise and make public of the production and tour’s budget and finances for fair and effective communications within and outside of the team.

Wayang Kulit performance during the ASEAN Day 2015.

Silhouette of shadow puppet and the puppeteer.

APEX group photo in Manila, Philippines

Group Photo at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta.

OUTCOMES

CONTACT INfORMATION

ASEAN FoundationJl. Sam Ratulangi No.2, MentengJakarta 10350, INDONESIATel : +62 21 3192 4828Fax : +62 21 3192 6078Email : secretariat@aseanfoundation.orgWeb : www.aseanfoundation.org

think, Feel, #BeASEAN

ASEAN Foundation on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ASEANFoundation)ASEAN Foundation on Twitter (https://twitter.com/aseanfoundation)

Supporters interested to partner with the ASEAN Foundation to implement the programme should contact secretariat@aseanfoundation.org

Visit the ASEAN Foundation website at www.aseanfoundation.org for current information on ASEAN Foundation activities, events, and more.

The criterion for APEX’s success is based on the increase in ASEAN-focused intercultural work among ASEAN’s puppet artists, enthusiasts and people of ASEAN’s communities, measured both qualitatively and quantitatively.

• APEX Programme Lao PDR – Thailand on 12-15 November 2014

• APEX Programme Brunei Darussalam – Singapore on 8-10 December 2014

• APEX Programme The Philippines –Indonesia on 19-21 March 2015

• APEX Programme Malaysia – Cambodia on 20-22 May 2015

Within the four APEX Programmes there were approximately:• 60 participants consisting of young puppet

artists, both traditional and contemporary• 2,700 audiences from schools and the general

public• 25 organisers and partners