OISTAT

International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians  http://www.oistat.org

FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT 2013 – 2017

MEMBER SINCE 2003

First time I’ve heard about OISTAT was in 1999 during my second participation in the Prague Quadrennial – PQ1999, when the organization launched a parallel program of meetings, alongside the PQ, between the scenographers who were   attending the event and the public. It was a precise answer to my restlessness in face the PQ 1995 Exhibition, when I strongly missed meeting people and exchanging thoughts, ideas, etc… as a complementary activities to the amazing showcase that is PQ event. Since then the focus on PQ has changed and consequently my grew interest to go back every other time because it became, from that point, a fruitful meeting place, unfortunately I would need to wait another 4 years for the next event. Though, through the OISTAT I found out the meetings, discussions and exchanging experiences could happen more often by following the OISTAT Activities and programs.

In 2003 I become affiliated as an individual member and started to attend to the meetings following the Education Commission, when I started collaborating with it, what I never stopped since then. Is important to make clear that everyone within the OISTAT, collaborates as a volunteer. In 2007 by the joint efforts of two groups in Brazil: CenografiaBrasil and ABrIC, we founded the first OISTAT Centre in Latin America.

 

 

 

 

presenting at OISTAT 50 years, RWCMD, Cardiff / 2018

What is OISTAT?  How does it work? 

OISTAT is a global network of theatre makers celebrating design & technology in live performance. A non-governmental organisation, recognised by UNESCO and which has existed for more than 40 years founded in June 1968 in Prague, by initiative of ITI International Theatre Institute  which reunited theatre experts  from 8 countries, and for the founding meeting included including the representatives of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Culture and the representatives of the Czechoslovak Association of Drama Artists, and it was initially called Organisation of Scenographers and Theatre Technicians – OISTT.

At that period, a great interest was growing on the development of scenography and costume art worldwide. In particular, influenced by the great success of Czech artists participation in important international Arts events as such as the Biennial of São Paulo and the Paris Arts Salon, what resulted in the implementation of the Prague Quadrennial in the year 1967.  It was the moment and the opportunity to establish, in Czechoslovakia, a basis for the development, documentation, exchange of experience and knowledge reuniting scenographers and theatre experts. The OISTAT first general secretariat was host in Prague, by the Theatre Institute until 1993, then moved to Amsterdam (1993-2005). At the 2011 Congress, the secretariat is renamed as the headquarters and it is responsible for the operation of the organisation. It is composed by an Executive Director and the staff. The Headquarters is now located in Taipei, Taiwan

Currently, OISTAT covers more than 50 countries represented by National Centers of OISTAT, individual members and associate (corporate) members. The activities are coordinated by the Governing Board (GB) and its Executive Committee (EC). The Executive Committee consists of eight elected members including the President, elected at the congress every four years. The essential activities of the organisation are undertaken by the Commissions and Sub-Commissions, working on the following areas:

Architecture

Performance Design :  Costume Design SubC / Sound Design SubC / Lighting Design SubC / Space Design SubC

Education

Technology

Publication / Communication

Research

Theatre Timeline Group

The commissions and groups usually meet once each year. Every centre is encouraged to send a delegate to the commission meetings; invidividual members of OISTAT are most welcome to take part in the commission meetings. The principle of the OISTAT activities is based on mutual invitations, extended by the centers. They extend invitations to a commission to meet in their country. Every four years, the commission elects a chair whose job it is to organize the meetings as well as the activities between meetings, propose themes and coordinates the projects.

OISTAT produces publications, creates and realise projects through Commissions and working groups, in addition to individual initiatives. Two projects have a special attention nowadays because they count on the worldwide member’s collaboration:

WSD – World Stage Design/SCENOFEST

WSD – World Stage Design is an event to celebrate the design of performance by exhibiting professional practitioners, who the can apply independently for taking part in the  exhibition. It happens every four years, in the interval of the PQ and every edition in a different location around the world. The first WSD was in Toronto, 2003, followed by Seoul in 2009,  Cardiff in 2013  and Taipei in 2017. The next edition, in 2021 will take place in Calgary / Canada.

SCENOFEST was launched in 2003 in development of the OISTAT side program at Prague Quadrennial. After 3 editions linked to the Prague Quadrennial – in 2003, reuniting more than a thousand students, educators and professionals – in 2007, a very rich and successful event, attracting more than 7000 students and professionals from all over the world – 2011, focused on workshops and live performances; the SCENOFEST moved to exist in parallel with the WSD – World Stage Design since 2013, creating a platform event of live performances, workshops, presentations, education and research.