Minister of Culture and Sport

Welcome to all the guests of the 2016 International Puppet Theater Festival.

Jerusalem, our eternal capital, is a fascinating location for international multidisciplinary cultural activities. Jerusalem is a pioneer in visual theater and is home to the finest cultural institutions working in these genres. The city of Jerusalem, with its vistas and multiculturalism, is a source of inspiration, capable of setting one’s imagination afire. It is no wonder that Jerusalem hosts remarkable international festivals in a variety of fields, one of which is the International Puppet Theater Festival, held every summer.

The Festival attracts visitors in part because the charm of puppets never wears off, no matter one’s age. To borrow the words of Israeli singer-songwriter Shalom Hanoch, “We are all the children of life.” The International Puppet Theater Festival demonstrates the extent to which we all have a child within.

The Festival celebrates multicultural, multidisciplinary, international creativity in the theater of objects and images, offering a carefully-selected variety of excellent contemporary shows. The Festival also provides a forum for artists from Israel and around the world to conduct an inter-cultural artistic discourse for the benefit of all.

We extend our thanks to Mr. Nir Barkat, mayor of the host city of Jerusalem, to Ms. Dalia Yaffe-Maayan, CEO and artistic director of The Train Theater, and to all the people who have worked to make the Festival a reality.

Best of luck with the Festival!

With best wishes,

MK (Brig. Gen., res.) Miri Regev

Minister of Culture and Sport