Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry

The Ballard Institute is a puppet museum at the University of Connecticut in Mansfield that displays over 3,000 marionettes of different types including rod puppets, hand puppets, and shadow figures from around the world. The building contains exhibition spaces where visitors can see these objects and also hosts performances and workshops.

The museum was founded in 1987 and originated from Frank Ballard, who established the first university puppet arts program in the United States at the University of Connecticut. This founding marked a turning point in how puppet theater came to be recognized and taught in academic institutions.

The collection emphasizes puppet-making traditions from many cultures, showing how this craft serves as a form of artistic expression across different societies. Visitors can understand the connection between handwork and storytelling theater when looking at the various puppets and learning where they come from.

The facility is located in the Storrs Center and is open Wednesday through Sunday, with options for guided tours and interactive activities. Visitors should know that the museum is on a university campus and parking and accessibility options may vary.

The institution houses the Audio-Visual Collection of the Puppeteers of America with around 700 recordings of performances and techniques from around the world. These archive materials offer a rare look at live puppet theater as it was actually performed and make it possible to see historical performances that would otherwise be hard to access.

Location: Mansfield

Operator: University of Connecticut

Address: 1 Royce Cir #101B, Storrs, CT 06268

Phone: +1(860)4868580

Email: bimp@uconn.edu

Website: https://bimp.uconn.edu

GPS coordinates: 41.80477,-72.24310

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:25