Marionettefestival

Growing up with the festival: when children become creators

In Esch-sur-Sûre, a barn becomes a theatre, a garage becomes a gallery and a church becomes a stage for creatures born from children’s imaginations. Every two years, the Marionettefestival transforms the village of Tadler into an open-air stage.

During the 2023 and 2025 editions of the festival, the Fondation Sommer supported two educational projects: ‘Vu Marionetten an alen Trottinetten’ and ‘Vergiess de Gaardenzwerg!’. Led by the non-profit organisation Esch(t)Kultur, these two projects aimed to involve groups of young people from the Maison Relais and the Campus am Ale Bësch in Eschdorf in creating artistic works to be included in the festival programme.

Following the 2025 edition, the Fondation Sommer and Esch(t)Kultur discussed how children and young people could be more closely involved in designing the festival. This led to the idea of using the gap year between editions to forge lasting links between children, artists, the primary school, the Maison Relais, and the local community.

Since 2026, the Fondation Sommer has supported and guided the non-profit organisation Esch(t)Kultur in its strategic planning regarding the involvement of children and young people in the festival, as well as the long-term partnerships formed.

From spectators to creators

The Marionettefestival is an international event dedicated to the arts of puppetry and contemporary object theatre. Every two years, performances, workshops and activities are held in sometimes unexpected venues across the rural area of Esch-sur-Sûre, such as barns, residents’ garages and the village square.

While children used to be invited to watch performances as part of school trips or with their families, they are now encouraged to play an active role in creating the festival. Supported by professional artists, they experiment with creating and imagining artistic forms within their own environment.

Learning by doing

The educational projects from previous editions and the long-term programme are based on an active approach to learning: learning by doing.

Children are not just given explanations about the art of puppetry. Instead, they handle materials, test ideas, transform everyday objects, and collaborate to bring their imagination to life.

This approach makes artistic creation tangible and accessible. It encourages creativity, independence, and teamwork while prompting reflection on how ordinary objects can become part of an artistic creation.

A creative project taking place within the local community

The programme takes place in a rural setting, where the festival has strong links with the local community and cultural organisations. This local dimension is essential: children discover art in familiar surroundings and play a part in transforming their environment into a creative space.

They create work for a real audience and see it incorporated into the festival they are taking part in. Their creations do not remain in the classroom: they become an integral part of the Marionettefestival and are viewed and discovered by local residents.

The long-term programme aims to build a sustainable partnership between the festival, the primary school, the Maison Relais, and cultural professionals in the region. This partnership is based on shared values of participation, experimentation, and inclusion.

The municipality of Esch-sur-Sûre covers a large area, and not all children at Campus am Ale Bësch Primary School live in the same villages. This initiative strengthens their sense of belonging to an event in their own municipality. Art therefore becomes a means of participating in the life of the local community.

A year to prepare for the next one

The Marionettefestival takes place every two years. However, the experience does not stop when the festival ends. The Fondation Sommer supports the work carried out during the gap year between festivals. This period provides an opportunity to maintain links with the children, artists, and educational partners while preparing for the next festival.

In particular, this preparatory phase draws on the expertise of the Musée Plomm, a partner and adviser to the programme through its Kompetenz Labo. Dedicated to stories, narratives and the art of storytelling, the Kompetenz Labo supports children and adults in developing the project, helps draw up the terms of reference in collaboration with the artists, and is present during one or more workshops to ensure follow-up and continuity.

The aim is to establish and strengthen the presence of contemporary art in children’s lives by exploring for one year, creating the following year and then starting afresh with new ideas and forms.

This timeframe gives children the chance to gradually discover the festival and see themselves as active participants. The gap year is therefore not a hiatus. It is a time for preparation, experimentation and connection.

Together with local partners in education and culture, the Marionettefestival aims to involve children at an earlier stage in discussions about future projects. The goal is to give them an increasingly active role in the creative process as explorers, researchers, and artists.

Creating the festival of tomorrow

The Sommer Foundation supports the project, giving it the time it needs to take shape. This includes time to meet partners, devise workshops, support artists, involve children, and prepare for future editions.

The programme offers children the chance to view their surroundings differently, to create alongside others and to participate in the cultural life of their local area.

At the Marionettefestival, children are therefore no longer just those who come to watch the performances. They help create tomorrow’s festival.