In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre received $48,000 ($24,000 per year for two years) to support Puppet Lab in 2016-17 and 2017-18, an eight-month laboratory program for emerging puppet and mask artists in Minnesota, providing four artists or artistic teams with stipends, a mentor director, professional development workshops, technical production (lights, video and sound), marketing, and documentation costs to create and present new work.