Cultural tourism, focused on exploring art, history, traditions, and attending festivals, is becoming increasingly popular in Turkey. The recent 10th anniversary puppetry festival in Ankara drew significant interest from theater critics and audiences alike.
This year, puppeteers from nine countries - Bulgaria, Brazil, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Turkey, France, and South Korea - converged on the Turkish capital. Additionally, an online scientific and practical forum titled "Puppet Theater, Classical Education, and Paths of Its Development," organized by the St. Petersburg Institute of the Arts, attracted 22 participants from 10 countries. Presentations from three universities - RGISI (Russia), KazNUI (Kazakhstan), and Uludag University (Turkey) - generated such interest among puppetry professionals that Uludag University decided to publish a journal in Turkish, English, and Russian to provide information about puppet theater and its practices.
Puppet shows have not traditionally been a staple of Turkish culture. Initially, audiences were skeptical of puppet performances. However, in recent years, not only children but also adults eagerly anticipate the festival shows.
According to the organizers, this year's performances saw sold-out audiences. This indicates the festival's success in promoting and popularizing puppetry in Turkey. Furthermore, the Ankara puppet festival facilitates the exchange of experiences among puppeteers from various countries and artistic directions.
Each theater participating in the 10th International Puppetry Festival was awarded prizes. However, the most valuable reward for the artists was the acquired experience and the enthusiastic response of the audience.
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