Meeting 2007

The first meeting of WAP
World Association of Puppeteers
Prague, November 1 to 4 2007.

During this 4 day meeting, the new members of the board discussed the main goals of WAP and have agreed on the following decisions for the new nonprofit organization:
-The main office of WAP will be in Czech Republic, Prague, Karlova 44.
-In honor of this event the Board of WAP baptized the theatre in Karlova 44 as a WAP theatre.
-For membership communication WAP will start a WEB site; the chief editor is Behrooz Gharipour.
-WAP will publish a magazine “World Puppeteers” to promote the knowledge of Puppet Art; the chief editor will be Bogdan Ulmu.
-To hold workshops and free education courses for members of WAP.
-To produce WAP performances of a specific play for the same occasion in different countries at the same time.
-To organize symposiums and seminars on different subjects of world puppetry.
-To found an archive of puppet art (video, posters, photos, etc).
-To help puppet organizations and festivals worldwide.
-To became the main organizer of 12th Edition of the World Festival of Puppet Art, Prague 2008 from 1 to 7 June.
-All the members of WAP Board approved that WAP membership was open to everyone who loves puppetry and related arts.
-Programs should bring together people of different states, nations, cultures, faiths and races through puppetry arts. Programs should encourage children and young people to have self-confidence in their life development.
-Puppet programs should promote human rights and peace on our planet.

These decisions have been made in the benefit of puppet art by the Board and Counselors of WAP.

	President Mr.Todor Ristic Director, Professor of Puppet theatre, Founder of International Institute of Puppet Art, Founder and Director of World Festival of Puppet Art Prague, Member of Czech Unima	wap.prague@yahoo.com
	Committee of Counselors
	President of Committee Mr. Behrouz Gharibpour, Iran Professor of Tehran University, President of Professional Training of UNIMA, President of Mobrak UNIMA-Iran, Writer and Director of Aran Puppet Theatre Company, Member of Culture Academy of Iran	gharibpourbehrooz@yahoo.com www.behroozgharibpour.com
	Mr. Jerry Bickel, USA Director Bits N Pieces Puppet Theatre and “Catch as Catch Can” Children’s Festival, member of UNIMA-USA and Puppeteers of America	jbickel663@aol.com
	Valery Bugaev, Russia Artistic Director of Kursk State Puppet Theatre, Honored Art Worker of Russia, Honored Artist of Ukraine	ku-dolls@kursknet.ru
	Mr. Carles Cañellas, Spain Theatre Director, Author, Actor and Puppeteer, Manager and Art Director of Rocamora Teatre. Lecturer of the Institut del Teatre of Barcelona. Member of CIATRE (Catalan Association of Theater Companies).	rocamorateatre@telefonica.net
	Mr. Sten Wallin, Sweden Artistic leader of Pygmeteatern in Stockhom. Playwright, Director and maker of puppets and design, member of UNIMA, ASSITEJ and ITA	sten@pygmeteatern.se
	Mr. Gabriel Apostol , Romania Dr. Lecturer in Puppet Art, University of Drama and Cinema – Bucharest Counselor of UNIMA-Romania, Puppeteer of “Tandarica Theatre“	gabrielapostol@yahoo.com
	Mr. Yurij Titarov, Ukraine Director and Actor, Theater Ravlik Kiev, Member of UNIMA	theatre_ravlyk@rambler.ru
	Mr. Ronny Aelbrecht, Belgium Artistic director, Actor and Puppeteer, President UNIMA-Belgium	vlinders@telenet.be R.A@telenet.be www.vlinders.be
	Mr. Walid Dakroub, Lebanon Puppeteer, Professor Scenography and Puppet Technologies in Lebanon University, Member of the Board of Khayal Association for Arts and Education, Member of Lebanese Puppet Theater Beruit	waliddakroub@hotmail.com
	Dr. Bogdan Ulmu, Romania Professor, University of Arts Iassy	bulmu14@yahoo.com
	Ms. Miryam Reategui, Peru General Secretary ASSITEJ-Peru, Presidente Ande-Peru-Idea, Director of Cultural Centre Nosotros ONG, Director of Theatre, Actress and Drama Teacher	assitej_peru@yahoo.es
	Mr. Walid Badr, Egypt Director and Puppeteer of Theatre “Welyawel Troupe”	info@welyawel.com
	Mr. Robert Waltl, Slovenia Theatre Director, Author and Puppeteer, Manager and Art Director of Mini Teater Ljubljana, Assistant Professor for Puppetry at Universities in Slovenia and Croatia, General Secretary of UNIMA-Slovenia	info@mini-teater.si
	Mr. Sid Ahmed Meddah, Algeria President of UNIMA-Algeria, director of company “Aladdin”, Director of Festival Sidi Bel-Addes-Algeria	wap.algerie@yahoo.fr
	Mr Dimitar Dimitrov,Bulgaria Actor and Assistant in International Academy of Puppet Art	golubpt@abv.bg