ABOUT US

Charity no. 1194137

Moving Parts Arts brings people and places together through puppetry.

Homegrown in Newcastle upon Tyne, our focus, base and roots is the North East of England. At the core of what we do is participatory arts - a belief that everyone can be creative, and that puppetry is a unique way of breaking down barriers.

We produce the award-winning Newcastle Puppetry Festival, alongside dynamic community projects, workshops and events throughout the year, engaging 26,000+ people annually. We bring the best of puppetry from around the world to Newcastle and support local artists to experiment and imagine.

We aim to transform everyday spaces into creative, colourful communities. Our Charity is run and shaped by Newcastle residents; we care deeply about making the city a better place to work, live and thrive.

Moving Parts Arts was founded in 2017, originally existing only as the biennial Newcastle Puppetry Festival. In 2021 we became a year-round Charity and the festival was moved to an annual offering in 2023.

“Moving Parts deliver thoughtful and inspiring projects that, whilst being about social impact at their heart…[are] a showcase of ambition, talent and impact for the city.”

- Community Foundation North East

Puppet Quest! participants, 2026

AIMS AND VALUES

Puppetry is for everyone and brings people together.

Puppetry is a unique art form that offers unique experiences.

Puppetry is diverse, inclusive and accessible.

We formed Movings Parts Arts CIO: “To promote the art of puppetry and related performance skills for the public benefit through the provision of festivals, theatrical performances, training opportunities and workshops to enable the engagement and participation of the public.” (Charitable Objectives)

WHY PUPPETRY?

Puppetry is an inherently accessible, expressive and inclusive creative activity. As the puppet is an extension of the body (as opposed to acting or dancing where the performer themselves are the focus), the art form encourages freedom of expression, builds confidence and is a neutral medium to explore difficult topics and themes. Puppetry is often non-verbal, focusing on movement, enabling it to break down language, demographic and cultural barriers, allowing unlikely participants to connect through creativity and expression.