OISTAT – International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects, and Technicians is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded 1968 in Prague, Czech Republic. According to its founding name, the organization is mainly a network for theatre designers, theatre architects and theatre technicians around the world. It is made up people associated with creating or studies on live performances, including educators, researchers and practitioners. The organization has members from around the world, currently in 53 countries with membership categories: Center Member, Associate Member and Individual Member.
Contents
- History
- The Congress
- Executive Committee and Governing Board
- Headquarters
- Commissions
- Architecture
- Education
- Research
- Performance Design
- Publication Communication
- Technology
- Theatre Architecture Competition TAC
- World Stage Design
- WSD2005 Winner List
- WSD2009 Winner List
- WSD2013 Winner List
- OISTAT Scenofest
- World Scenography
- Digital Theatre Words
- New Theatre Words
- References
History
The predecessor of the organization was a scenography section of International Theatre Institute (ITI) since 1948. It was anticipated to form international cooperations of all artistic fields and establish leading publishing and educational directions from the drama sections. The endeavor failed, but the interest in visual elements of theater grew. Shortly after, the International Association of Theatre Technicians (IATT)was formed in Paris 1958. It also faltered due to lack of direction, programming, organizational structure, administrative and financial provisions. The representatives sought ITI to take up the activities again. The ITI Secretary General Jean Darcante went to Prague in 1967 to discuss with the representatives of the Czechoslovak National ITI Center, the Theatre Institute and the Institute of Scenography, the possibilities of establishing an organization whose general secretariat would be located in Prague. The Czechoslovak scenographers, including professional workers and theatre specialists of both institutions prepared a draft program for the activity of the new organization with the Ministry of Culture, Czech Republic. Jean Darcante traveled to Prague again early 1968 to win a binding promise of the Czechoslovak official authorities and agree with the Theatre Institute and the Institute of the last details. On 7 and 8 June 1968, the foundation committee meeting to establish the new International Organization of Scenographers and Theatre Technicians (Organisation Internationale des Scénographes et technicians de Théatre-OISTT/OISTT) took place. The founding members consisted of representatives from Czech Republic, Canada, Israel, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States of America.
The Congress
The Congress is held every four years coinciding with the Prague Quadrennial which was its first meeting in its establishment. The Congress consists the entire body of its members and was decided by its voting members the steering President and Executive Committee members. The general assembly also discuss future international projects and theatre movements to gain maximum support from its member spread through 53 countries.
Executive Committee and Governing Board
OISTAT affairs are coordinated by the Governing Board and its Executive Committee. The Executive Committee consists of eight elected members including the President, elected at the congress. The Governing Board consists of the elected chairs of the six commissions.
Headquarters
Headquarters, originally the Secretariat and changed to HQ in 2011, is the only constant office of the organization in charge of daily communications and serve as the center network for its members and commissions. The Headquarters has migrated since its founding: 1968-1993 in Prague, Czech Republic 1993-2005 in the Netherlands and since 2006 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Commissions
Six commissions lead various projects in their field of studies: Architecture, Education, Performance Design, Research, Technology, and Publication and Communication. :
Architecture
Architecture commission was composed mainly of architects, theatre designers and technicians. The commission initiated the quadrennial project, Theatre Architecture Competition (TAC) in 1978 and the finalist designs are exhibited at the Prague Quadrennial.
Education
The commission is the main facilitator of OISTAT Scenofest and International Stage Design Students' Works Exchange (ISDSWE) in Beijing, China.
Research
Research commissions focuses on the theoretical and historical aspects of theatre scenography, architecture, and technologies. Theatre Timeline Working Group is a recent establishment by the commission focusing on archiving theatre technologies, recording and preservation.
Performance Design
Performance Design includes 3 working groups: Costume Design, Lighting Design and Sound Design.
Publication & Communication
The commission's recent projects include World Scenography, New Theatre Words, the online Digital Theatre Words.
Technology
OISTAT Technology facilitates idea exchanges in the field of theatre technology, develops research projects, and examines standards and safety issues. The commission offers technical advice and support for theatre technicians worldwide. The Theatre Invention Prize (TIP) is a competition initiated since 2011 by the commission.
Theatre Architecture Competition (TAC)
Theatre Architecture Competition is an international ideas competition, aimed at students and emerging practitioners, which is organised every four years by the Architecture Commission. It has been in these cities: competitions where held:
In 2011, the competition theme was to design a theatre for a specific performance. The theatre can be in 'found' spaces which were not previously or presently a performing space, or create a temporary installation.
In 2015, the theme will be to construct a 'floating theatre' on Spree River in Berlin, Germany. The competition has moved from Prague Quadrennial to Berlin's Stage|Set|Scenery.
World Stage Design
World Stage Design is an international exhibition of performance design from theatre, dance, music, and opera, as well as a showcase for cross-disciplinary performances and installations in non-conventional theatre spaces since 2005. It is held every four years on different continents, to purposely show the latest designs in theatre performances. Different from the Praque Quarennial which presents designs curated by each country, World Stage Design allows every individual designer to submit design works directly to the curatorial panel for the grand exhibition. It has been in these cities:
WSD2005 Winner List
Medal Winners in Sound Design
Medal Winners in Lighting Design
Medal Winners in Costume Design
Medal Winners in Set Design
WSD2009 Winner List
Outstanding Scenographer
Medal Winners in Set Design
Medal Winners in Costume Design
Medal Winners in Light Design
Medal Winners in Sound Design
The Awards Jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision so it decided to divide the prize money among all contributors in the category.
WSD2013 Winner List
Exceptional Achievement across all categories
Set Design Award
Shortlist: Lukas Noll, Xinglin Liu
Costume Design Award
Shortlist: Marja Uusitalo, Natalya Kolosowsky
Lighting Design Award
Shortlist: I-Hua Kao, Madeleine Sobota
Sound Design Award Dedicated to the memory of Steven Brown
Shortlist: Karen Lauke, Marcelo Pellegrini
Interactive & New Media Award
Shortlist: Fereshteh Rostampour, Yei-Sheng Wang
Performance Design Award
Shortlist: Ciaran Omelia, Louise Ann Wilson
Installation Design Award
Shortlist: Ariane Harrison, Jan Strobbe
Temporary Sustainable Theatre Winning Design
OISTAT Scenofest
OISTAT Scenofest has been held in conjunction with Prague Quadrennial since 2003. It provides seminars, workshops, thematic exhibitions, performances, and presentations, with the aim of engaging students and professionals in the field of theatre design. Since 2013, Scenofest has formed new connections with World Stage Design.
World Scenography
World Scenography is a three-volume series which aims to gather significant scenographic works of theatre set, costume, and lighting designs from 1975 to 2015. The first volume World Scenography 1975-1990 documents 430 designs from 61 countries was published in 2012, and awarded United States Institute for Theatre Technology Golden Pen Award in March, 2014. It is said that the second volume World Scenography 1990-2005 will be published in 2014.
Digital Theatre Words
Digital Theatre Words is an ongoing digital publication project initiated by OISTAT Publication and Communication to edit the most common theatre terms into a multi-language dictionary. The project comprises 2,000 theatre terms in 24 languages, along with descriptions, photos, and pronunciations. Digital Theatre Words mobile application was launched on June 15, 2014.
New Theatre Words
New Theatre Words is an illustrated multilingual theatre dictionary and reference first published in 1975. There are currently three editions: Northern Europe, Central Europe, and World Edition, which comprise 25 languages in total.