The Allelu Award
by 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: 2017 - Present
2026
Concrete Temple Theater
PACKRAT
Korea
2026
2026
Katkatha Puppet Arts
About Ram
Puppets in the Green Mountains Festival
September 17 - 18, 2026
2025
Nekaa Lab/Sachiyo Takahashi
Shin'nai Meets Puppetry
Festival Mondial des Theatres de Marionnettes - Charleville-Mézières, France
September 19 - 28, 2025
2025
Handspring Puppet Company
The Life and Times of Michael K
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival - Chicago, IL, USA
January 15 - 26, 2025
2025
Wakka Wakka
Dead as a Dodo
Festival Mondial des Theatres de Marionnettes - Charleville-Mézières, France
September 19-28, 2025
2024
Silent Tide / Sarah Wright(UK)
The Adventures of Curious Ganz
HERE Arts Center, Puppetopia - New York, NY USA
February 26-March 2, 2024
2024
Phil Soltanoff & Steven Wendt
This & That
MimeLondon 2024 - London, UK
February 13-17, 2024
2023
Janni Younge (South Africa)
Hamlet
Chicago International Festival of Puppet Theater - Chicago, IL USA
January 26-28, 2023
2023
Andy Manjuck & Dorothy James
Bill's 44th
London Mime Festival, London, UK
January 31-February 4, 2023
2022
Théâtre de l’Entrouvert (France)
Anywhere
HERE Arts Center, Puppetopia - New York, NY USA
May 11-15, 2022
2022
Sandglass Theater
When I Put On Your Glove
Festival of Wonder, Silkeborg , Denmark
November 10-13, 2022
2022
Margarita Blush
Unfolding
Pesta Boneka Festival - Indonesia
October 2022
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 - New York, NY USA
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 (Germany)
Cabinet of Curiosities
La MaMa 2018 Puppet Festival, New York, NY USA
November 1-3, 2018
2018
Wakka Wakka Productions
Made in China
Go Figure Internasjonal figurteaterfestival, Oslo, Norway
June 8-9, 2018
2017
Plexus Polaire (France/Norway)
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
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 info@hensonfoundation.org. It is best to contact us with any questions well in advance of the application deadlines.