Center for Puppetry Arts

What Center for Puppetry Arts does

Center for Puppetry Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution founded in 1978 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It operates a single physical venue at 1404 Spring St. NW that combines a mainstage theater, a museum, and educational facilities. The museum houses more than 4,000 puppets and artifacts, including the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets in the U.S. with original Muppets, Fraggle Rock, and Sesame Street figures, alongside the Global Collection covering world puppetry traditions. Core programs include live puppet shows, multi-style puppetry workshops and classes, hands-on Create-a-Puppet workshops, a summer Puppet Camp, sensory-friendly and accessibility-focused programming, and digital learning programs delivered via Zoom to schools nationwide. The Center is the largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated solely to puppetry and serves as the headquarters of UNIMA-USA.

The Center's business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack. Earned revenue comes from ticket sales, museum admissions, group/field-trip fees, digital learning programs ($185–$225 per program), birthday party rentals, and a six-tier museum membership program ranging from $45 to $300 annually. Contributed revenue includes individual donations, a major-donor 1978 Society ($500–$10,000 tiers), an annual String Fling gala (raising over $410,000 in 2026), corporate sponsorships ($1,500 to seven figures), and government and foundation grants from Fulton County, the City of Atlanta, Georgia Council for the Arts, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Coca-Cola Foundation, the Jim Henson Foundation, and others. Distribution combines in-venue ticket sales, group/field-trip direct sales, online program booking, and a relaunched touring program extending the reach to schools and communities in Georgia and the Southeast.

In 2026 the Center has executed an unusually active programmatic expansion, including the relaunch of touring productions after a 17-year hiatus, three world-premiere stage productions (The Stinky Cheese Man, American Tall Tales, and the touring Owl at Home), and a major new special exhibition, Frame by Frame: The Art of Stop-Motion Animation, sourced from Disney Archives, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Archives. The Center serves families with children, K-12 schools and educators, adults, audiences with disabilities, and corporate partners, and is preparing for its 50th anniversary in 2028.

Name

Center for Puppetry Arts

Legal name

Center for Puppetry Arts, Inc.

Website

https://puppet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Center for Puppetry Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia, operating a theater, museum, and education programs built around the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets in the U.S., serving families, K-12 schools, and adults via live shows, workshops, digital learning, and touring productions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts & Cultural Institution

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Puppetry & Marionette Theatre (MPAGABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions) (MPAGAOAJ)

Keywords

• Live puppet theater
• Puppetry museum exhibitions
• Arts education programs
• Digital learning workshops
• Cultural arts institution

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from puppet show performances, museum admissions, and special events. Tickets include access to all exhibitions and Create-a-Puppet Workshops.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers (Student $45, Individual $55, Dual $75, Family $110, Puppet Prime $175, Sustainer $300) providing unlimited museum access, show discounts, and exclusive benefits. Memberships valid for one year from purchase date.
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Individual donations, major donor program (1978 Society with tiers from $500-$10,000), and general financial support from individuals.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship opportunities ranging from $1,500 to six and seven figures, including program sponsorship, space naming opportunities, and event sponsorship. Benefits include brand visibility, employee perks, and tax benefits.
5. Education Programs: Digital learning workshops for schools ($185/program), group workshops, and Puppet Camp summer program for grades K-12.
6. Digital Learning Programs: Online curriculum-based workshops and puppet shows delivered via video conferencing, priced at $185-$225 per program for schools and groups.
7. Annual Fundraising Gala (String Fling): Annual benefit gala and online auction raising over $400,000 each year to support theatrical productions, museum exhibitions, and educational programming.
8. Government and Foundation Grants: Support from Fulton County Board of Commissioners, City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, Georgia Council for the Arts (NEA partner), and various foundation grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Center for Puppetry Arts operates as a nonprofit cultural institution offering live puppet theater performances, permanent and rotating museum exhibitions (including the Jim Henson Collection and Global Collection), and hands-on educational workshops. It also delivers digital learning programs via Zoom, summer Puppet Camp for grades K-12, and touring productions, supported by a multi-tier annual membership program and an annual fundraising gala.

Product overview

The Center for Puppetry Arts operates as a performing arts organization and museum offering live puppet theater performances, interactive workshops, and educational programs. The portfolio includes mainstage puppet shows (such as American Tall Tales, Tesla vs Edison, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer), permanent museum exhibitions (Jim Henson Collection, Global Collection), special exhibitions (Frame by Frame stop-motion animation), digital learning programs via Zoom, Puppet Camp for youth, touring productions, and special events including the annual String Fling gala. The organization serves families, schools, educators, and adults through both in-person and online programming, supported by a multi-tiered membership program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jim Henson Collection: A permanent exhibition featuring original puppets, props, and artifacts from The Muppets, Sesame Street, and other Jim Henson productions.
• Global Collection
• Frame by Frame: The Art of Stop-Motion Animation
• String Fling
• 1978 Society
• XPT: Xperimental Puppetry Theater
• Puppet Camp

Products and services

• Puppet Shows Live puppet theater performances featuring original productions, guest artist shows, and seasonal favorites performed at the Center's mainstage, targeted at families and adults.
• Jim Henson Collection
• Global Collection
• Frame by Frame: The Art of Stop-Motion Animation Special exhibition featuring 80+ original puppets, sets, and production elements from stop-motion films and TV series, drawing on materials from Disney Archives, Netflix, Warner Bros. Archives, and private collections.
• Workshops and Classes
• Puppet Camp
• Digital Learning Programs
• Touring Shows Traveling puppet productions that bring fully staged performances directly to schools, universities, and community venues outside Atlanta, primarily across Georgia and the Southeast.
• Museum Membership
• Birthday Parties
• String Fling Gala
• Family Day Events
• American Tall Tales World premiere summer 2026 family puppet show celebrating American folk heroes including Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill.
• The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales World premiere stage adaptation of Jon Scieszka's 1992 picture book performed at the Center's mainstage in spring 2026 with more than 20 handcrafted puppets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Millions of visitors inspired since 1978
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered exhibition partner, curatorial partner, major and core.

• The Walt Disney Archivesexhibition partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Source of exhibition materials for Frame by Frame stop-motion animation exhibition.
• Netflixexhibition partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Source of exhibition materials for Frame by Frame stop-motion animation exhibition.
• Warner Bros. Archivesexhibition partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Source of exhibition materials for Frame by Frame stop-motion animation exhibition.
• Emily D. Myerscuratorial partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Animator and educator with 15+ years industry experience serving as co-curator of Frame by Frame exhibition alongside Jill Nash Malool.
• Brenau University Theater DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Host venue partner for touring program residency at Brenau University's Hosch Theatre.
• TYA/USA / ASSITEJcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization serving as U.S. branch of ASSITEJ (International Association of Theatre for Children and Young Audiences).
• UNIMA-USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center serves as headquarters of UNIMA-USA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette), the international puppetry organization.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alliance Theatre: Atlanta's flagship regional theater, also based at the Woodruff Arts Center, producing a season of plays and musicals with strong education and community programming — directly comparable as a fellow Atlanta performing arts nonprofit with similar funding sources and audience segments.
• High Museum of Art: Atlanta's leading art museum and fellow Woodruff Arts Center tenant, offering ticketed exhibitions, memberships, family programming, and school field trips — directly comparable as a nonprofit museum with education-driven programming and similar Atlanta funding base.
• Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Fellow Woodruff Arts Center resident and Atlanta-based performing arts nonprofit presenting ticketed seasons, education programs, and corporate partnerships — directly comparable as a peer performing arts institution competing for the same Atlanta audiences, members, and corporate sponsors.
• Imago Theatre: Portland, Oregon-based mask and puppet theater company producing original works that tour nationally and internationally — directly comparable as a U.S. puppetry-focused theater company with touring productions and family programming.
• Chicago Children's Theatre: Chicago-based TYA theater company producing original works for young audiences with school residency and education programs — directly comparable as a TYA theater nonprofit with similar audience, funding model, and education-driven revenue mix.
• Children's Theatre Company (Minneapolis): The Tony Award-winning children's theater in Minneapolis is a TYA/USA member that produces original live theatrical productions, school residencies, and education programs for young audiences — directly comparable in mission, audience, and programming model to the Center for Puppetry Arts.
• Seattle Children's Theatre: One of the largest TYA theaters in the U.S., producing mainstage seasons for young audiences with extensive education and school programming — directly comparable as a TYA/USA peer theater with similar school field trip and digital learning offerings.

Emerging players

• The Center for the Performing Arts (Carmel, IN): Mid-size multi-venue performing arts center presenting touring productions and educational programming — comparable as a cultural venue operator with educational programming, though broader in artistic scope than the Center for Puppetry Arts.
• Sinking Ship Entertainment: Puppetry-driven film and television production company behind shows like 'Odd Squad' and 'Penny Dreadful' — comparable as a creator of puppet-based family entertainment, though primarily a media producer rather than a live venue operator.

Broad incumbents

• The Jim Henson Company: The commercial creator of the Muppets, Fraggle Rock, and Sesame Street — broadly comparable because the Center houses Henson's largest collection and collaborates with the Jim Henson and Jane Henson Foundations; however, The Jim Henson Company is a commercial production house rather than a nonprofit performing arts venue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/centerforpuppetryarts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CenterforPuppetryArts
• Facebookfacebook.com/CenterforPuppetryArts
• Instagraminstagram.com/centerforpuppetryarts
• TikToktiktok.com/@centerforpuppetryarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-puppetry-arts

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Puppetry Arts