National Puppetry Conference (Emerging Artist Strand, Resident Company, scholarships)

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Puppetry Conference, held each June in Waterford, Connecticut (Pre Conference May 30-June 4 and Main Conference June 5-14, 2026), gathers puppeteers from around the world to develop skills and devise new puppet theatre works under master artists. Participants choose a strand; most are tuition-based ($800-$1,675) with partial scholarships available to Main Conference participants, while the Emerging Artist strand (open only to Conference alumni, tuition waived with a $500 room and board fee) supports alumni at a critical career juncture working on a specific project with mentors, and the Resident Company strand ($750 total) has members support the Emerging Artists' projects under Jane Martineau's direction. Applications, which require a resume, headshot, artistic statement, and $15 fee, closed February 4, 2026; the conference is led by Artistic Director Pam Arciero and funded by the Jane Henson Foundation.

Emerging Artist strand limited to Conference alumni with a project proposal; Resident Company open to performers who support Emerging Artists' pieces; $15 application fee (waivers available).

Most tracks are tuition-based (partially offset by scholarships); included for the subsidized Emerging Artist and Resident Company tracks. Artistic Director Pam Arciero.