Welcome to The Jim Henson Foundation where we are passionate about puppets.

Puppetry is performing an object to give it the illusion of life. Puppetry goes back to ancient times and appears in many cultures. The diversity of styles and techniques that have flourished across the globe are extraordinary. We believe the true magic of puppetry happens when puppets are brought to life by human hands.

Jim Henson was one of the most famous puppeteers in the world. He believed in the power of puppetry to entertain and to educate but he also embraced puppetry as a means of individual creative expression. He was active in the national and international puppet communities and supported professional puppeteers working in their own unique styles. Jim and his wife Jane started this foundation to encourage the art form that they loved. 

Since its founding in 1982, the Henson Foundation has awarded more than 1,300 grants for the creation and presentation of new works of contemporary American puppet theater, with a focus on excellence in puppet design and performance. We are proud to support so many accomplished artists. Learn more about our granting program here.

From 1992 to 2000, the Henson Foundation produced a major festival in New York City showcasing the best contemporary puppet theater in the world, introducing this exciting art form to New York theater-going audiences and inspiring a new generation of artists to enter the field. Presenting 126 productions from 31 countries across 13 stages over five festivals, the Henson Festivals brought critical attention to puppet theater for adult audiences and launched an exciting era for the art form.

Since then, the foundation has taken on special projects such a touring exhibition American Puppet Theater Today: The Photography of Richard Termine, emergency funding for puppet theaters and mini residency programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, four Puppets on Film festivals and providing puppets and performers for the Yale Child Study Center research paper on puppetry and autism. We also added travel grants and residency programs. But the Foundation’s primary activity remains direct support for the creation of new puppet theater and the presentation of this work through our annual granting cycle.

To find out about upcoming shows, take a look at our Puppet Happenings listings and Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Whether you are an artist or an audience member, we encourage you to seek out examples of this beautiful and ancient art form. I am happy to support the activities of The Jim Henson Foundation as we make grants for innovation and excellence and to carry on my family’s passion for the art of puppetry.

Cheryl Henson
President 1992-present