Transport: Sustainable puppet co-creations for European young audiences

Programme Creative Europe (2021–2027) - CULTURE
Project field
- Performing Arts
Sub-programme Culture
Year 2024
On web
Website
EU Grant 1.000.000,00 EUR
EU Grant for SI 245.530,77 EUR (Ljubljana Puppet Theatre)
174.888,66 EUR (Maribor Puppet Theatre)
Duration May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2027 Ongoing

Transport is an international co-production project by Slovenian director Tin Grabnar. In the 2024/2025 season, it unites six theatres from Slovenia, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic in creating six diverse productions. These genre-spanning performances, which are structurally and thematically interwoven, explore the theme of transport as a cornerstone of globalisation. While celebrating the benefits of transport, such as enriched cultural diversity and economic development, the project highlights its devastating environmental impact.

The productions explore the complex interconnectedness of the globalised world, where isolation is no longer an option. This intricate network urges reflection on the consequences of our actions and the pursuit of more sustainable and responsible global development. Each standalone performance addresses pressing contemporary issues and, when presented as a theatrical series or puppet theatre omnibus, underscores their interconnectedness and global scope.

The productions are characterised by hyper-realistic miniature visuals and complex soundscapes, immersing audiences in an intimate confrontation with the consequences of environmental crises, ecological disasters, wars, resource depletion, cultural identity loss, elitist superiority, and luxury tourism. The complete omnibus will premiere in Slovenia in October 2025 as part of the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025. Beyond content, the project addresses sustainability by critically examining the environmental impact of theatre production and optimising sustainable practices for touring performances.

The three-year Transport project is led by the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre, with the participation of the Maribor Puppet Theatre and the Eesti Noorsooteater from Estonia, Klaipėdos Lėlių Teatras from Lithuania, Białostocki Teatr Lalek from Poland, and Divadlo Alfa Plzeň from the Czech Republic.

Trailer.

Ljubljana Puppet Theatre

(Leader) Ljubljana

All projects of Slovenian producer

Maribor Puppet Theatre

(Partner) Maribor

All projects of Slovenian producer

Foreign producers in the supported project

Białostocki Teatr Lalek (partner)

Poland (EU)
Sihtasutus Eesti Noorsooteater (partner)

Estonia (EU)
Klaipėdos lėlių teatras (partner)

Lithuania (EU)
Divadlo ALFA (partner)

Czech Republic (EU)
Centro Regionale Teatro Animazione e Figure CTA (partner)

Italy (EU)

Funded projects

LIVEUROPE – 2017–2021 (4. year)

LIVEUROPE – 2017–2021 (3. year)

LIVEUROPE – 2017–2021 (2. year)

Soft Control

Future Architecture Platform – 2017–2021 (4. year)

Future Architecture Platform – 2017–2021 (3. year)

Future Architecture Platform – 2017–2021 (2. year)

Future Architecture Platform / FuturA – 2015–2017 (2. year)

Aerowaves – 2017–2021 (4. year)

Aerowaves – 2017–2021 (3. year)

Aerowaves – 2017–2021 (2. year)

Aerowaves – 2014–2017 (3. year)

Aerowaves – 2014–2017 (2. year)

Story Time – Connecting People with the Power of Art

European film screening in 2024

European film screening in 2023

European film screening in 2022

European film screening in 2021

European film screening in 2020

European film screening in 2019

European film screening in 2018

European film screening in 2017

European film screening in 2016

European film screening in 2015

European film screening in 2014

European film screening in 2013

The Film Corner Clubs 2026-2028. From virtual to real (TFCClubs)

Here I am! (HIA)

EUthentic Detectives – Fostering Media literacy of people who face cognitive challenges, their caregivers and young volunteers

CEE Animation Workshop (CEE AW) – 2026

Film in Hospital 3.0 - a pan-European Film Initiative for Young Audiences in Healthcare Structures

First Dog

36. and 37. Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe)

The 22nd and 23rd Kino Otok - Isola Cinema International Film Festival in Years 2026 and 2027

The 12th and 13th edition of FeKK - Ljubljana Short Film Festival

Animateka International Animated Film Festival (AIAFF)

Young Stories from the Old Continent (YSOC)

Bookmark – Marking Europe's Best Narratives

No Person Is An Island (NPII)

Immersive European Cultural Heritage Outreach (Immersive ECHO)

European Media Art Platform Extended (EMAP Extended)

EHIN - European Hybrid Intelligence Network

W.Write – Women, Writing, Rights, and Rites: reimagining the ecosystem of Literary Arts

RE-MIND: A Mindfulness-Based Capacity-Building Model for Digital Wellbeing and Intergenerational Audience Engagement in Museums

New Steps: EU’s first steps towards career transition support for dancers

Brave Creative Producers (BCP)

stART point - a platform where performing arts and young people get connected (stART.)

Heritage Understanding & Participation Hackathon: Co-creating Cultural Heritage Experiences with and for youth (Hup Hackathon)

Artificial Intelligence for Artistic Futures and Creative Talents (ARTIFACT)

Cultivator – a cultural ecosystem for collective change

Architecture With an Approach to Regeneration and Empowerment (AWARE)

Upsala – SUITCASES

Invisible painting (IP)

BRIDGE: Building, Revising, Including – Diaspora and Gender Equality

Studio Virc – Mini Slate 2025: Izzvenelo bo, Dolasilla, princesa usode, Tujek, Pobeglo srce

NOSOROGI – Mini Slate 2025: Three Waters Meet, The Healers, Liar, Thief, Flea-Eater

Mono O – Mini Slate 2025: The Happiest Day, The Last Roast, After Sunday

Cvinger – Mini Slate 2024: Before the Eyes Turn Black, Reckoning by the Sea, Project North

Venice Eastern Gate

Innovation through media collaboration: Digital assets exchange platform (MEDEXCHANGE24)

Animation HUB (A-HUB)

Word: Enhancing European Graphic Novel Perception, Circulation and Market Development

Roma Soul Food (ROMASOUL)

Tying the European Cultural Landscapes with Knots and Patterns (Knots and Patterns)

Hiking Heritage Trails (INHERIT)

Sensory Artistic Experiences for the Blind (Multisensory Art)

PASS – Pass the Street (Art), Shake the Hand

Slow Performing Arts Festivals for Improved Wellbeing, Mental Health and Social Inclusion (Festival SPA)

Staragara – Slate 2024 (The Colour of the Doubt, Black Swan, Removal, We would have told each other everything, Kozmonavti)

PAGE: Project for Advancing coGnitivE accessibility in publishing

NEB COOLTOURS: Transforming Tourism Through Cultural Innovation and Environmental Stewardship in Alpe-Adria

Bridges

Transition to 8: European societies in flux

ENACT – Easy-to-understand News for Collaborative Transformation

THRIVE – Talent Harvest: Rural Intangible Heritage and Value Empowerment

CAFE: Redefining Historic Cafés as European Cultural Heritage

ArtElevate – Fostering Inclusive Cultural Expression in Europe

CARE – Culture for Mental Health

Glassmaking Between Tradition and Innovation (GTMI)