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Welcome to Middleof!

Immersive Art Gallery Experience

Step into a world of whimsy designed by The Puppetry Institute's artist collective!
Join us in creating the world of Middleof - an interactive art and puppetry gallery inspired by the magical world of
Mercurio's Mythical Menagerie! 


[7/27/24 Update: We are currently 50% funded!]

Middleof 0f is the newest venture from the puppetry institute!

 
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We're halfway there! Please help us to bring The Puppetry Institute's Middleof project to life!

 

This 5,000 square foot interactive arts installation in Santa Cruz, CA, blends the visuals of an art installation, the excitement of an escape room, and life-size creature puppets ranging from 6 inches to 16 feet. Experience a multi-dimensional journey of light, sound, and story while interacting with mythical creatures from various cultures.

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We have already raised half of our $30,000 goal and are deep into the build.

Forty percent of Middleof ticket sales will allow us to expand our Scholarship Program, providing free workshops to kids aged 8-17 for eight years running.

Donations as little as $1 will get you behind-the-scenes videos and pics. Donations of $100 or more will receive free passes, Middleof T-shirts, dragon eggs, and much more.

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We are a non-profit school specializing in Puppetry & SFX based in Capitola, CA with a mission to ensure universal access for children and young adults in our Creative workshops, Performances, and educational classes.

The Puppetry Institute owes its survival to the fact that 70% of our funding is self-generated. This support comes from our gracious Patreons, revenue from workshop and performance sales, personal donations, occasional anonymous contributions slipped under the door, and art sales. 



Previously, our primary funding source was performances for local schools, sadly -
the effects of local storm damage and other school funding factors have limited opportunities to perform.

However, with your help we could bring our art and performances to the community here at the capitola mall, who will provide us with a 5000 sq ft space in which to take this dream to reality!

 

Themed room concept art by members of the TPI artist collective

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Cheeto Dragon T-Shirts!


Enter the enchanting realm of MIDDLEOF!
Immersing visitors in a fantastical realm of creativity and wonder, our Interactive Puppetry Arts installation will draw inspiration from innovative spaces like Meow Wolf, Arte Museum, and The Museum of Illusion. This unique experience seamlessly fuses puppetry, technology, and
interactive design to transport participants into a surreal world where imagination knows no bounds. Visitors become active participants, navigating through a multisensory landscape where puppetry comes to life in unexpected and enchanting ways. The installation challenges
conventional boundaries, inviting guests to engage with puppets through touch, movement, and even virtual reality, creating a dynamic and immersive spectacle that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy.

Just as Meow Wolf and similar spaces have redefined the traditional museum
experience, our Interactive Puppetry Arts installation aims to captivate audiences, leaving them
inspired, bewildered, and filled with a sense of awe.

Beyond sustaining our scholarship program, this project promises to offer employment opportunities to artists, actors, and makers from both the Central Coast and beyond, with a particular focus on empowering disadvantaged and neurodivergent young artists. Our initiative aims to create a safe and creative working environment for these individuals, fostering their skills and providing meaningful employment.

With your support (and tax deductible donations), we can turn this vision into reality!
Thanks for your time
Making The World A Cooler Place… One Puppet At A Time!
Ricki Vincent, Artistic Director
The Puppetry Institute

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