Research residencies and Documentary residencies

The Institut International de la Marionnette (IIM) is to join forces with the Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes to create, from January 2025, a reference centre for the puppetry arts.
Research will continue to be a key element of its project.

Through the programme of research residencies and documentary residencies proposed by its Documentation and Research Department, the Institut International de la Marionnette (IIM) wishes to encourage fundamental research on puppetry arts, to support the creative process of artists and to reinforce the links between the communities of research and those of creation.

Research residencies must last at least two weeks. Documentary residencies have no minimum duration.
They may not take place during periods when the Institut is closed (from 2 to 17 August inclusive and from 20 to 31 December, 2025, inclusive) or during September.

Selection criteria
Applications will be selected on the basis of the interest shown by the research, the novelty of its subject, its scientific and/or artistic objectives and the methodology used. The availability of resources related to the research project in the Documentation and Collections Centre will also be taken into account.

Research undertaken at the IIM must be the subject of a publication, which the researchers undertake to forward to the IIM.
Particular attention will also be paid to applications from young researchers.

Applicants who are unsuccessful in the call for research residencies may be offered a documentary residency on request (see below).

Selection conditions and research residency programme
Six applications will be selected to receive a grant of €1,500. This grant will be paid in the form of royalties. It may also be invoiced by the researcher if their status allows.
Two grants will be awarded as a priority to Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts de la Marionnette (ESNAM) teachers wishing to undertake research likely to enrich their teaching.

All residents benefit from the resources available in the Documentation and Collections Centre, a personal welcome from the Documentation team and contact with IIM partners. Residents will also be offered accommodation in the flat rented by the IIM. For this reason, the dates of the residency are based on the availability of a room.
Researchers have access to the Documentation Centre during opening hours: Monday to Friday, 1pm to 5pm. They may borrow certain documents at other times.

In return, residents agree to leave a copy of their research work (dissertation, thesis, article, documentary, etc.) at the Documentation Centre and to take part in an informal meeting with ESNAM students and/or the IIM and Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes (FMTM) teams to present and discuss their research topic in no more than one hour.

Redirection to documentary residencies
Some applications not selected for a research residency may be reoriented towards documentary residencies, without grants. Residents will have access to the resources available at the Documentation and Collections Centre during opening hours and will be accommodated in the flat rented by the IIM.
They may be offered informal meetings with ESNAM students and the IIM and FMTM teams if the selection committee considers that such an exchange is relevant for both the students and the researcher.

The Documentation Centre offers documentary residencies
On request and subject to availability, a room in the flat rented by the IIM can be made available to researchers wishing to carry out research.
To apply for a documental residence, contact the librarians at infodoc@marionnette.com. Requests can be made even outside the call for applications (at least one week before the desired date)

Apart from residencies, the Documentation Centre is open to the public throughout the year, with the exception of certain periods (summer closure and Christmas holidays). See opening hours.
Access is free, subject to availability.