For its 2023 edition, the MarionetteFestival wanted to set up a pilot project to closely link the festival and the primary school classes of the municipality of Esch-sur-Sûre, where the event takes place. With this project, the festival, whose mission is to make the arts of puppetry and contemporary object theatre accessible to all, aimed to enable children to make the festival their own by actively contributing to it before and during the event.
The visual artist Nora Wagner accompanied the pupils of the 4 participating classes in cycles 3 and 4. Her aim was to encourage autonomy in the creative and intellectual process with the children. In several workshops with each class, the pupils worked with the artist on the various aspects and stages of creation: finding materials, experimenting with different techniques, creative thinking, assembling and setting up. Following the classroom workshops, the Festival invited the young artists and their teachers to spend the opening day of the Festival together. The children had the opportunity to visit the backstage area, watch a show and talk to the artists. Above all, they were able to set up their own installations, created in advance with the artist Nora Wagner.

As a result of the workshops and discussions, the participants were able to develop their knowledge and were able to differentiate and experiment with numerous manipulation techniques and the specific features of each of them.
Thanks to this pilot project, the Festival was able to build up a close working relationship with the primary school in Esch-sur-Sure. The integration of culture into teaching and the development of the Festival’s educational offering is a real enrichment for both partners.