Bring the Arts to Your Community
In the Heart of the Beast (HOBT) frequently brings its programming and teaching artists to Minneapolis-Saint Paul area classrooms, libraries, businesses, nonprofits, festivals, conferences, and corporate team building events. Find out how the magic of puppetry can inspire people young and old, and improve community and company culture and collaboration.
Explore your options, then reach out to us!
Are you interested in booking a story time, puppet making workshop or a puppet show? Our artists will design an experience to match the interests and needs of your participants and staff. Below are the programs we can offer in your space. Please reach out to ekotlyar@hobt.org for more information.
What We Offer
We offer a range of arts programming that works well with a variety of communities, contexts, and age groups.
Afterschool Workshops
This kid, tween and teen arts programming is ideal for schools, community centers and libraries. Let us know the ages and the number of your participants, as well as their general interests and we will design a series of puppet making or puppet exploration workshops to take place on days and times that work for your students. Want your students to learn more about shadow puppets, make masks or work on a story narrative with puppets we bring to you? The possibilities are endless, we use as many recyclable materials as possible and expand on your student’s imagination as they play and explore.
Homeschool and School Residencies
We work with homeschool cooperatives, public and private schools to bring puppetry to bring puppetry to your students! We will design a curriculum that fits your students interests and needs. Want your students to work on narrative development while they design a shoe box puppet theatre or use their favorite book to make puppets to go with the story? These workshops can span one week to multiple weeks. We will work with you to design a fantastic art experience for your students.
Make/Take Activities
Our Make/Take Activities are one or two hour long puppet making programs that can travel anywhere and are appropriate for people of all ages — from children to adults. As the name implies, these programs are focused on creating simple puppets that can be made in one session and taken home. We have engaged with countless participants of all ages at libraries, community centers, senior living facilities and schools with these fun make and take activities! Will you be next? Let us know your interests and when you want to plan your activity and we will work alongside your staff to make the best experience for your group.
Fun Art Activity Birthday Parties for Kids & Adults
When it comes to your next birthday party, HOBT has you covered with puppetry and arts activities that make the experience fun and interactive for every adult or child involved. If your loved one is passionate about art and being creative, our parties are a perfect fit. Reach out to us and together we will build an affordable and customized experience for your adult or child birthday party in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul metro area.
Team Building Events Involving Art for Corporations, Nonprofits and Other Groups
Arts activities can provide a refreshing and new way to improve company culture and collaboration. Our teaching artists can work with you to create an unforgettable program that can be delivered conveniently at the location of your corporate retreat, or your Minneapolis - Saint Paul metro area office.
Story Time
Our story time is best suited for ages 9 months to 10 years and we are building material for older participants as well! Storytime are short puppet shows based on books that can be performed in almost any setting. We will bring the stories, soft puppets, and our storytellers will include finger plays, familiar songs and movement in this activity, to meet the needs of your group. We’ve brought story time to libraries, school family evens, preschools and day treatment centers, as well as to neighbors for our Halloween Storytime tour. Bring story time to you!
Wandering Puppets at Festivals, Conferences, and Community Events
Hosting a large community event? We would love to bring our wandering puppets to engage and interact with your audiences! You might have seen us at Franconia Sculpture Garden, at the Walker Art Center, MIA, the Loppet or Plymouth Music Festival. Or maybe you attended a MN Orchestra Performance and saw large HOBT puppets on-stage? Our giant puppets spread the magic and joy everywhere they go, bring us to your event next!
Puppet Shows for Your School or Organization
We have several talented teaching artists that perform puppet shows tailored to elementary and middle school audiences. There are a variety of STEM topics available.