Arab Puppet Theatre Foundation (APTF)

National Network
Liban
Address

Assaf Bldg., 3rd floor, Hamra
Beirut 1103
Liban

Telephone
+961-1-742073
E-Mail
mahmoud@arabpuppettheatre.org
E-Mail (2)
nadine@arabpuppettheatre.org
Mobile Phone
+961-70-160819
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2008
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
General Information
APTF organisation: director, 2 staff (part-time) & 1 volunteer (part-time) sources of funding: Ministry Culture (Lebanon), British Council, Welfare Association, A.M. Qattan Foundation, Unite Youth Lebanon Projects: residencies (2), workshops (50), performances (3) (per year) Main partners: Les Amis des Marionnettes (Beirut), Sally Brown & Steve Tiplady (Indefinite Articles/Great Britain), Popular Khayal Group (Cairo/Egypt), Dafar Theatre (Amman/Jordan), National Theatre (Khartum/Sudan), The Khalid Shoman Foundation (Amman/Jordan), National Theatre (Palestine).
Mission and Objectives

Recognizing Arab Puppetry's rich heritage, APTF was established with the aim to celebrate this artform & encourage new puppetry practices in the Arab World. As an umbrella organization, APTF brings together artists working with puppetry in many different contexts, encouraging imaginative and creative expression to foster mature relationships and care for our environment. To this end, this non-profit organization, works with a broad variety of individuals and organizations, including Arab youth, social workers, educators, budding and professional puppeteers. APTF's mission is to contribute towards education, artistic excellence, social cohesion, cultural and environmental awareness and economic growth through the power of puppetry. Our Foundation approaches and practices puppetry as: - A rich artistic medium for expression - A viable skill for creating employment - An experiential learning methodology - An adaptable mean for powerful communication - An inspiring way to promote divergent thinking and collaboration that is vital to a culture of creativity.

Main Projects / Activities

APTF assists the professional development of artists associated with puppetry. APTF designs specialized workshops, provides training, organizes festivals and art residencies, creates performances, assists the educational and non-governmental sector and produces publications and material on the subject of puppetry in the Arab World. APTF frequently organises residencies in and outside Lebanon that bring novice and established puppeteers together.

How can you contribute to the Network in your country?

APTF has accumulated a wealth of experience using puppetry in various contexts that it is able to share with other members and member organisations part of the ALF Network.

Why do you want to join the ALF Network?

The ALF Networks overlaps with the geographical area, namely the Middle East and parts of Europe, where the APTF operates. Over the past 4 years, APTF has been establishing a vast network spreading across the Arab World, bringing established and student puppeteers together with professionals from the region as well as from Europe for its bi-annual residencies. Beyond that, it uses the art of puppetry as educational and environmental tools, in rural and urban contexts, as well as refugee camps. APTF strongly identifies with AFL's ethos of networking and would like to be able to invite other ALF members to take in its projects.

Contact (1) Full Name
Mr. Mahmoud al-Hourani
Job Title
Founder / Director
Head of the organisation
Mr. Mahmoud al-Hourani
Contact (2) Full Name
Ms. Nadine Bekdache