THE HERDS will be propelled by participation. We are inviting universities, art colleges and groups of many kinds along the route to build and perform with the puppet animals. Our training will be from some of the world’s leading puppeteers and puppet designers.

Our education programme “Boxed Wilderness” will engage schools, families and people across the world with free downloadable resources, education & activity packs, reading lists, lesson plans and open-source puppetry design kids, available in early 2025.

Our foundation partners include Ukwanda Puppets and Designs Art Collective in South Africa, Wimbledon College of Arts (University of the Arts London) and TED Countdown.

We will be announcing many of our international partners in January 2025. To become a partner CONTACT US.

  • Wimbledon College of Arts (University of the Arts London)

    FOUNDATION PARTNER

    Wimbledon College of Arts is dedicated to the study of theatre, screen and performance arts practice, training students to become innovative performers and experimental designers. The College has an international reputation for producing performance graduates known for their creativity, technical accomplishment and professionalism. Its MA course in Puppetry is the first of its kind in the UK.

    Wimbledon College of Arts is part of University of the Arts London (UAL). UAL graduates go on to work in and shape the creative industries worldwide. UAL is ranked second in the world for Art and Design in the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject ®.

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  • TED Countdown

    FOUNDATION PARTNER

    Countdown is a collaboration powered by TED and Leaders’ Quest. We launched Countdown, TED’s first issue-specific initiative, in 2019 in order to champion and accelerate the bold ideas and underinvested solutions that can bring us closer to achieving a zero-carbon world – one that is cleaner, healthier and fairer for all.

    We are guided by a small cross-sector group of recognized, values-driven leaders and we work collaborate with a network of partners who are leaders in their fields.

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  • Ukwanda Puppets and Designs Art Collective

    PUPPETRY DESIGNERS

    THE HERDS puppets are designed by Ukwanda Puppets and Designs Art Collective (Luyanda Nogodlwana, Siphokazi Mpofu, Sipho Ngxola), Craig Leo, Simon Dunckley, Hansie Visagie and Amir Nizar Zuabi.

    They came together in 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa, with a background in designing, building and bringing to life some of the world’s most famous puppet creations including Little Amal and the War Horse puppets, both under the leadership of Handspring Puppet Company.

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