String Fling and Call to Auction
Fundraising Gala and Online Auction
String Fling and Call to Auction 2026
Save the Date – March 21
THANK YOU!
Bidding is now CLOSED
2025 String Fling and the Online Auction are over, and with YOUR participation, we EXCEEDED our fundraising goal for the Center for Puppetry Arts!
String Fling and Call to Auction 2025 – Labyrinth of Legends
What is String Fling?
String Fling is the annual fundraising event for the Center for Puppetry Arts, raising nearly $250,000 each year to support the Center’s operations, including theatrical productions, museum exhibitions, and arts-infused educational programming. For the 25th Anniversary String Fling theme is ‘Labyrinth of Legends’. We will be gathering to celebrate legendary careers – the contributions of Artistic Director Emeritus Jon Ludwig and a host of special guests from puppetry’s past and future.
This year, the Center combines it popular online auction (Call to Auction) with String Fling. Anyone can participate in the auction – near and far – and support the Center!
Learn more about String Fling, what to expect if you are an attendee, and the online auction that closes the evening of String Fling on the event website: one.bidpal.net/stringfling25
After 46 years, the Center continues to distinguish itself as a unique treasure in Atlanta with innovative performances, workshops, and exhibitions showcasing local to international artists and featuring timely stories to popular culture favorites. The organization produces 500 fully-staged puppetry performances per year through its Family Series, favorites for school groups, children, and their guardians, and its New Directions Series, for teen to adult cultural consumers. The Center has significant impact in the performing arts, with alumni working at Disney, The Jim Henson Company, Sesame Street, and in theaters on Broadway and around the world, as well as in the film industry.
In addition to 2 permanent galleries that house our Global Collection and the Jim Henson Collection, the museum presents 3-4 rotating exhibitions, and pop-up displays each year. Our educational efforts include online and in-person workshops, teaching artist-led activities, master classes and lectures, outreach programs, field trips, and accessibility initiatives that strive to ensure everyone can enjoy the magic of puppetry. As a pioneer in the field of web-based learning for the past 20 years, the Center develops award-winning curriculum-based interactive online experiences, reaching all 50 states and nearly 90 countries around the world.
Your attendance and support through String Fling help make all of this possible, and keep puppetry alive and thriving! Please consider donating or getting involved!
For more event information about 2025 String Fling, please contact:
Stephanie Carter, Development Manager
A few memories from String Flings of the past….
Committed 2025 Sponsors & Patrons
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Warner Bros. Discovery
PRODUCER
The Coca-Cola Company
Georgia Power
SUPPORTER
Delta Air Lines
Domain Capital Group
Inspire Brands
Perkins&Will
Printpack and the Love Family Foundation
Synovus
Mr. and Mrs. H. Bronson Smith
Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits
Tower Lights
CONTRIBUTOR
Acuity Brands
Bennett Thrasher
Build Technology Group
EY
Georgia-Pacific
Fifth Third Bank
Karen Falk and Michael Goldman
Cheryl Henson
Beth and Ross Schiavo
John Tester and Joseph Brooks
Kathy Waller
PUPPETEER
Vanessa and Jeffrey Blake
Judy and Ed Garland
Sydney and Joel Langdon
The Realff Family
Yee Family Charitable Fund
MARIONETTE
Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
Margo Brinton and Eldon Park
Catherine and Kenny Kraft
Gail and John Chandler
Lucy and Vir Nanda
Allen W. Yee
Sponsor and Supporter Listing as of February 19, 2025
2025 Event Committee
Joseph Brooks and Joseph King, String Fling Co-Chairs
Iymaani Aytes
Priscilla Carter
Sherrod DeGrippo
Judy Garland
Shelley Hoffmann
Mike Hostinsky
Janet King
Catherine Kraft
Sophie Merven
Sherri Wright
About the Center
Our Mission is to inspire imagination, education, and community through the global art of puppetry.
Our Vision: To be the premier puppetry center in the world through our performances, museum and educational programming. Click below to learn more.