A puppet is the artist's soul set free.

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (BIMP) is the State Museum of Puppetry for Connecticut. Located on the UConn Depot Campus in Storrs, the Museum preserves and exhibits puppets from around the world as well as those created at the University of Connecticut. BIMP also provides research and educational opportunities to all who share the love of puppetry.

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry began in 1987 as the Puppet Preservation Committee whose members recognized the uniqueness of the hundreds of puppets created at the University of Connecticut.