ᏗᏁᎶᏙᏗ ᏍᎦᏚᎩ

Dinelhdodi Sgadugi

Native artists exploring puppetry in community

ᎠᏧᏣ Chootch puppet sitting by the river in Through the Narrows (2018) by Z Puppets Rosenschnoz

 

June 22nd - August 22nd, 2025

A cohort of 6 native artists will meet in person at Z Puppets’ studio in South Minneapolis for 9 sessions to explore together best practices for creating and presenting culturally relevant native puppetry.

Cohort members each receive:

  • 36 hrs of in-person cohort group learning and support,

  • individual coaching with Z Puppets’ co-founder Chris Griffith,

  • 12 hrs of additional optional virtual puppetry workshops,

  • a $2,100 stipend, and

  • a $300 supply budget for their work.

At a final Circle event, the group will have the opportunity to share work-in-progress with family, friends and community.

A 2nd cohort of 6 additional native artists living in Greater MN will meet online for virtual puppetry workshop sessions.

MAY 1st, 2025 DEADLINE TO APPLY

cohort schedule

  • Sunday, June 22nd (10 am - 4 pm)

  • Friday, June 27th (10 am - 1 pm)

  • Sunday, June 29th (noon - 2 pm ) - optional virtual session

  • Friday, July 4th (10 am - 1 pm)

  • Friday, July 11th (10 am - 4 pm)

  • Friday, July 18th (10 am - 1 pm)

  • Sunday, July 20th (noon - 2 pm) - optional virtual session

  • Friday, August 1st (10 am - 1 pm)

  • Friday, August 8th (10 am - 4 pm)

  • Friday, August 15th (10 am - 1 pm)

  • Sunday, August 17th (noon - 2 pm) - optional virtual session

  • Friday, August 22nd (10 am - 1 pm) - Circle sharing

  • Sunday, September 21st (noon - 2 pm) - optional virtual session

  • Sunday, October 19th (noon - 2 pm) - optional virtual session

  • Sunday, November 23rd (noon - 2 pm) - optional virtual session

This program embraces that diverse and unique tribal cultural identities co-exist within a larger intertribal culture. The cohort will be open to all Native artists seeking to use contemporary puppetry to express their culture and identity.

To apply for this cohort, artists will describe their experience, background and interest in creating and performing puppetry for youth. Artists will also define the skills they would like to develop.

Applicants will be chosen to balance the composition of the cohort with a diverse and compatible range of experience, and who meet the following criteria:

  • Native-identified artist

  • At least a beginning level of experience with puppetry and/or performing for youth

  • Articulated vision for how their work will benefit youth in their communities

    MAY 1st, 2025 DEADLINE TO APPLY