The Center for Puppetry Arts' mission is to inspire imagination, education, and community through the global art of puppetry. The Center's doors opened in September 1978, with Kermit the Frog and his creator Jim Henson cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Founded by Vincent Anthony, the Center filled a need for a place in the US where puppetry could be explored by both artists and audiences. Today, the Center has grown to be the largest non-profit organization in the nation dedicated solely to the art of puppetry.

For more than forty years, the Center has introduced millions of visitors of all ages to the wonder and artistry of puppetry through three key programming areas: Performance, Museum, and Education. These program areas work in tandem to showcase puppetry in action, as a fine art, and as a gateway to imagination.