the asean puppets exchange programme

THE ASEAN
PUPPETS
EXCHANGE
PROGRAMME
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 intraASEAN efforts.
BACKGROUND
P
uppetry
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.
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.
es
on
Ind
m
fro
nce
r ma
e r fo
Wayang p
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
ia
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.
Group photo with Puppet Performers.
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.
•
•
APEX performance in Resort World Manila, Philippines.
participating organisations
APEX in The Philippines.
No
Country
Organisation(s)
1
Brunei Darussalam
Penggiat Seni Tanah Air Brunei
(PeSTAB)
2
Cambodia
Cambodia Living Arts,
Sovanna Phum Art Association
3
Indonesia
SENA WANGI,
PEPADI
4
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.
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.
APE X group photo in M
an
OUTCOMES
i
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.
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ilip
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• APEX Programme Lao PDR – Thailand on 12-
ine
15 November 2014
s
• 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
S il
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
hou
ette
of s h
adow puppet
a n d the
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Contact Information
ppe
Supporters interested to partner with the ASEAN
Foundation to implement the programme should
contact secretariat@aseanfoundation.org
tee
r.
Gr
ou
p
Ph
Visit the ASEAN Foundation website at www.
aseanfoundation.org for current information on
ASEAN Foundation activities, events, and more.
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at
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SE
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Sec
ret a
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ASEAN Foundation
Jl. Sam Ratulangi No.2, Menteng
Jakarta 10350, INDONESIA
Tel :+62 21 3192 4828
Fax: +62 21 3192 6078
Email: secretariat@aseanfoundation.org
Web :w ww.aseanfoundation.org
kar ta.
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