Location Based Experience
Center for Puppetry Arts
Worlds of Puppetry Museum
year
2015
capabilities
When it was given more than 500 original Jim Henson puppets and artifacts, The Center for Puppetry Arts decided to completely reinvent its museum. TAIT was on hand to help design and produce an engaging, interactive visitor experience across 15,000 square feet of exhibition space in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Worlds of Puppetry Museum is divided into two sections. The Jim Henson Gallery starts with a reproduction of the visionary puppeteer’s office, complete with original sketches of characters, before beginning a chronological run-through of his 35-year career. Early advertising work is displayed alongside the iconic puppets and artifacts from shows such as The Muppets and Fraggle Rock, while in the Sesame Street room, visitors can try their hand at puppeteering on a replica TV set.
The Global Gallery has more than 170 puppets from around the world as well as interactive exhibits, including a shadow-puppet theater. Collection highlights include puppets built by Tony Sarg, the inventor of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons, and Japanese Bunraku puppets donated by master puppeteer Kiritake Kanjuro III.
The new museum generated a huge amount of media attention, and over 2,000 visitors attended the sold-out opening weekend. The Center for Puppetry Arts has become a must-visit attraction for both locals and tourists, described by Lonely Planet as ‘a wonderland … hands down one of Atlanta’s most unique attractions’.
Credits
produced by
Thinkwell, now tait
Civic Entertainment Group for A&E
Bates Motel SXSW
Nike