User:Kwlu2/sandbox



OISTAT – International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects, and Technicians is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded 1968 in Prague, Czech Repulic. According to its founding name, the organization is mainly a network for theatre designers, theatre architects and theatre technicians around the world. Nowadays, it is made up people associated with creating or studies on live performances, including educators, researchers and practitioners. The organization is comprised of members from around the world, currently with three member categories: Center Member, Associate Member and Individual Member.

History
The predecessor of the organization was being a part of International Theatre Institute (ITI) since 1948 intended to be a scenograph section within ITI. It was anticipated to see international cooperations of all artistic fields and establish leading publishing and educational directions from the drama sections. The endeavor failed, however, the interest in visual elements of theatre grew. Shortly after, The International Association of Theatre Technicians was formed in Paris in 1958, but also faltered due to lack of direction, programming, organizational structure, administrative and financial provisions. The representatives then sought ITI to take up the activities again. The ITI Secretary General Jean Darcante came 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 such an organization whose general secretariat would be seated in Prague. The Czechoslovak scenographers including professional workers and theatre specialists of both the above-mentioned institutions prepared a draft programme for the activity of such an organization including its budget and discussed this matter preliminarily with the representatives of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. Jean Darcante familiarized himself with this material and came to Prague again early in 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, there was a meeting of the foundation committee to establish the new International Organization of Scenographers and Theatre Technicians (Organisation Internationale des Scénographes et technicians de Théatre-OISTT/OISTT). The founder members were the following countries: Czech Republic, Canada, Israel, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany and the USA.

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 on future international projects and theatre movements to gain maximum support from its members spread through 50 countries.

Executive Committee and Governing Board
OISTAT 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 Executive Committee and the elected chairs of the six commissions.

Headquarters
Headquarters is the only constant office of the organization in charge of daily communications. 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 mainly comprises of architects, theatre designers and technicians. The commission initiated the quadrennial project, Theatre Architecture Competition 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 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 aims to facilitate idea exchange 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 and examines safety standards and issues. The Theatre Invention Prize is a competition initiated since 2011 by the commission.

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, while 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:
 * 2005, Toronto, Canada
 * 2009, Seoul, South Korea
 * 2013, Cardiff, UK

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. 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 18 languages, along with descriptions, photos, and pronunciations.

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.

Links

 * OISTAT English Official Website
 * OISTAT Chinese Official Website
 * World Stage Design 2013
 * OISTAT Scenofest 2013