Join us on Sunday, May 19th, 2024 for our annual Cattywampus Parade & Street Party in partnership with Open Streets Knoxville! This year’s theme is We Dwell Together. You can learn more and register your parade crew here.
Special Project: UT School of Art + Cattywampus
PROGRAMS
Cattywampus Puppet Council is collaborating with the UT School of Art to offer an innovative 499: Community Art course for undergrad and grad students in Spring 2024. This unique educational opportunity is funded by the Community University Research Collaboration Initiative (CURCI), a forward-thinking grant program offered through the UTK Sociology Department. The course will revolve around Cattywampus’s annual Parade & Street Party, providing UT students with an immersive experience in community-based art through working alongside youth at one of 10 afterschool partner sites Cattywampus hosts through its Youth Art Residency program. Participants will study other community art case studies and engage with additional local art organizations, deepening their understanding of how art can be a powerful tool for social change.
Youth Art Residencies
As part of our parade programming, Cattywampus hosts 9-week long art residencies at 10 afterschool partner sites throughout Knoxville. These residencies are completely free to community partners. Cattywampus teaching artists and youth interns meet weekly with students to support them in designing and creating their own original giant puppets and other parade art inspired by the year’s parade theme. Each residency culminates in students forming their own parade crew and sharing their original art with the community at the Cattywampus Parade & Street Party!
Our 2024 youth community partner sites include Centro Hispano’s after-school programs at Belle Morris Elementary, Norwood Elementary, West View Elementary, Lonsdale Elementary & Pellissippi State Community College; Boys & Girls Club sites at Vestal, Montgomery Village, & Western Heights; Pond Gap Elementary; and Canvas Can Do Miracles at the Wesley House.
Parade Youth Intern Squad
As part of our parade programming each winter/spring, Cattywampus hires local high school art students to work as teaching artist assistants at our Youth Art Residency sites throughout the community. Through this paid workforce development program, students have an opportunity to explore teaching careers in the arts, learn leadership skills, and so much more.
Community Workshops & Open Studio Days
Cattywampus leads workshops throughout the year in giant puppet making, parade art, storytelling, community-based art, and more! We’re happy to talk with you about bringing a workshop to your space. Contact us here.
Leading up to our annual Parade & Street Party, we offer special Giant Puppet Making & Parade Art 101 workshops geared for teachers, community leaders and other individuals who want to learn how to make art for the parade and organize their own parade crew. We also offer many Open Studio Days where folks can help us work on Cattywampus creations for the Parade or make their own art! Stay tuned for more details and our 2024 workshop schedule.
Resources
At Cattywampus, we believe everyone is an artist and has a story to tell. Visit our “Resources” page to access our free Giant Puppet Making & Parade Art Manual, templates, and other guides to inspire your creativity and help you make something for our Parade or any other occasion that calls for a giant puppet!
Knox Honkers and Bangers
Launched in January 2023 for Cattywampus’s Annual Parade & Street Party, the Knox Honkers & Bangers is a raucous, hot pink, inclusive community marching band!
Theater Projects
Cattywampus also creates original and collaborative theater for all ages! Currently, we’re working on a new children’s show for the spring, as well as a full-length outdoor pageant with our friends at Dragonfly Aerial Arts and One World Circus set to debut in Fall 2024.
Interested in bringing a children’s puppet show to your festival, library or community event? Please reach out. We love performing throughout the region.