Unima South Africa
UNIMA SA is an arts and social development organization focused on the art of Puppetry.
UNIMA SA works both to develop puppetry arts within South Africa and to use puppetry to promote transformation and social development.
Puppetry is a unique medium, with the power to unite across cultural, language and social divides.
Our social development activities focus on promoting social cohesion in historically disadvantaged communities in South Africa. We work to encourage original creativity amongst children and youth. We encourage the creation of new productions that focus on promoting African identity and positive socio-cultural messaging.
As an umbrella organization, UNIMA SA unites and supports artists working with puppetry in many different contexts; encouraging imaginative and creative expression to foster mature relationships amongst people and encourage care for each other and our environment. More about Unima SA
Diversity and Social Cohesion
Puppetry is an artistic medium that brings multiple artistic languages into play, speaks across cultural, gender and age divides and fosters integration through cultural collaboration. Events such as the festival Out The Box as well as local and international exchange programs are produced with the specific goal of fostering social cohesion and a love of cultural and artistic diversity in the arts.
Skills and Sustainability
Active Puppets and Child’s Play use puppetry as a tool for developing creative, technical and leadership skills. Youth, community-based artists receive support, training and professional puppetry engagements while children participate in workshops, imaginative productions and parades.
Wholistic Development
Indawo Yobom is a centre for growth and regeneration that supports quality of life. Building on a backbone of food security and physical wellbeing, the program uses creative performance, technical capacity and handcraft to build income generation and emotional resilience.
Professional Pathways
Emerging and professional artists are empowered in building successful and financially viable careers in puppetry arts. Areas of support include distribution of commercial work, production and financial management, funding application advice, participation in local and international performances and networks.
