Download the Report

OISTAT Scenography Commission Meeting
Stockholm, Sweden
2008
Minutes of two meetings:
Meeting 1 – Saturday 14 June, Chapman Boat Hotel, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm
Meeting 2 – Monday 16 June, Dramatic Institute, Stockholm
Present:
Bangladesh
Belgium
Belgium
Faiz
Jerome
Markus
Zahir
Maeckelbergh
Reisinger
Individual Member
Voting Delegate
Non-Voting Delegate
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Rita
Rosane
Elizabeth
Geerts
Muniz Rocha
Asselstine
Non-Voting (CWG)
Voting (CWG)
Voting (LDWG)
China
Czech
Republic
Czech Repuplic
Ping
Lu
Non-Voting
Jan
Simona
Reija
Marja
Ildiko
Benes
Rybakova
Hirvikoski
Uusitalo
Balla
Non-Voting
Voting (CWG)
Voting (SC Chair-Elect)
Non-Voting (CWG)
Voting
Nissar
Ichiro
Mitsugi ‘Mike’
Allana
Takada
Kunisada
Japan
Kenya
Netherlands
Netherlands
Kazue
John
Henk
Peter
Hatano
Njoroge
van der Geest
de Kimpe
Guest
Voting
Non-Voting
Non-Voting (CWG, Vice
Head)
Guest
Non-Voting (LDWG, Head)
Voting
Non-Voting–first meeting
Phillippines
Edwin J.
Lamarca
Phillippines
Phillippines
Federico R.
Rolando
Nic
Sung Chul
Miodrag
Sunniva
Ancheta
de Leon
Ularu
Kim
Tabacki
Thelestam
Finland
Finland
Hungary
India
Japan
Japan
Romania / USA
South Korea
Serbia
Sweden
only
Non-Voting–first meeting
only
Voting (CWG)
Non-Voting (CWG)
Voting (SC Chair)
Voting (5.4 S.WG, Head)
Voting
Mang Chao
Taiwan
Taiwan
Turkey
Uganda
UK
UK
‘Austin’
Wei-Wen
Evcimen
Augustine
Fiona
Peter Ruthven
Wang
Chang
Percin
Bazaale
Watt
Hall
UK
USA
USA
Steven
Jason
Laura
Brown
Ducat
Crow
Voting
OISTAT Executive Director
Voting
Individual Member
Non-Voting
Voting
Non-Voting (SWG, Vice
Head)
Non-Voting (SWG)
Voting (CWG, Head)
USA
USA
USA
Michael
Richard
Virginia
Ramsaur
Thomas
Vogel
OISTAT President
Non-Voting (SWG, Head)
Non-Voting (CWG)
1.0 Welcome and Opening Remarks
SungChul Kim, Chair, welcomed members and guests to the Scenography
Commission meeting. He was particularly pleased to introduce delegates from
Uganda and Kenya and from the new OISTAT centre in Brazil. He stressed that for
all the important things to happen in the name of OISTAT across the world, we need
to meet regularly face-to-face. Also, the organisation needs to live in our hearts and
minds both here in Sweden and when we return to our homes.
2.0 Approval of the Agenda
2.1 Review of Agenda
 It was agreed that Sunday’s meeting should become a joint workshop with the

Architectural Commission.
It was requested that PQ 2011 and Set Design Working Group were added to
the agenda.
2.2 OISTAT Notices
 Michael Ramsaur (USA), OISTAT President, reported from the OISTAT
Executive Committee and Governing Board meetings in Bregenz in May 2008.
He stated that the activities of OISTAT should benefit everyone - students and
professionals alike – and should therefore enhance the opportunities for




life-long learning for all.
Scenofest at PQ 2011 is provisionally titled ‘Ship of Fools’. It will include
site-specific performances.
There will be a new architectural competition established for PQ 2011.
The Publication and Communications Commission will continue to publish
the monograph series: Alan Neih (Taiwan) will follow the one on Jean-Guy
Lecat (France) published in 2007.
Eric Fielding (USA) and Peter McKinnon (Canada) intend to publish the next
three books on World Stage Design in the series:
 World Scenography 1975-1990
 World Scenography 1991-2005
 World Scenography 2005-2015


If you are interested in supporting these publications, please attend the
Publications and Communications Commission meeting in Belgrade in
September 2008. There will also be an election for the new Chair of the
commission.
There are two OISTAT summer workshops in 2008:
 Cardiff, Wales: Jean-Guy Lecat’s (France) ‘The Essential Performance Space’ is
running concurrently with this meeting, 11-16 June.
 Taipei, Taiwan: ‘Ghost Festival in Taiwan’, 13-21 August 2008. Wei-Wen Chang
(Taiwan), OISTAT Vice President and Executive Director, added a short report and
beautiful visual presentation on the Asia Meeting. Details at www.oistat.org.




World Stage Design 2009, Seoul, Korea was introduced and is discussed later
in these minutes.
Revisions and additions to New Theatre Words – which is 20 years old – are
underway and will be extensively available on the website with a search
facility. There is also a project underway to create an international technical
theatre guide. This item is reviewed in greater detail later on.
There will be an election for new OISTAT Executive Committee at the World
Congress in Seoul in September 2009. Nominations are welcomed for these
roles.
Membership is expanding. There is a new category of ‘Associate’ open to
schools and businesses. There are two new member associations covering
Europe and Asia which enable individuals to participate in group activities
where there are not already representative national centres. There is a new
OISTAT Centre in Brazil and one covering East Africa is being encouraged.

There is also individual friends’ membership of OISTAT.
Prompt payment of subscriptions (‘dues’) is appreciated!
3.0 Review Minutes of 2007 Scenography Commission Meeting in Prague
The minutes of this meeting on 17 June 2007 were not presented. Mention was made
of the Honourable Scenographers presentation at the Scenographers’ Forum.
4.0 OISTAT Scenography Commission Meeting Events
4.1 OISTAT World Congress in Seoul, Korea
 The OISTAT World Congress and commission meetings will be held on 18
September 2009 prior to World Stage Design 2009 (19-30 September 2009).
4.2. World Stage Design 2009, Seoul, Korea
 SungChul Kim (Korea), Director of WSD 2009, introduced his proposals for
World Stage Design 2009. These are based on his experience of operating
KOSTAT’s (Korean Centre) bi-annual expo.

Key Dates are:
 July 2008 - website goes live – www.wsd2009.com
 31 December 2008 – deadline for entries to WSD.
 31 January 2009 – announcement of the selection for 3-D exhibits by the international
jury.
 31 March 2009 – deadline for arrival of hi-resolution digital work actual exhibits for
the physical WSD gallery exhibition in Seoul.
 19-30 September 2009 – World Stage Design exhibition in Seoul, Korea.



Entries may be of a maximum of 10 images, submitted digitally. One or more
productions may be included within this limit.
Discussion suggested that unrealised projects should not be included; i.e. all
designs need to have been presented in performance in front of a live audience.
Work by students would only be eligible under this condition.
The exhibition will include entries for set, costume, lighting and sound design.
Heads of Working Groups may comment on the best format for submissions.
Working Groups therefore need to consult before offering guidance to



SungChul Kim.
The physical exhibition may be only 20-40 exhibits; but all exhibits will be
represented digitally.
A programme of workshops will be offered alongside the exhibition.
An exhibition of costumes and designs by Rien Bekkers (Netherlands) may be
presented at the same time.
4.3 Other Activities: Prague Quadrennial

Simona Rybakova (Czech Republic) reported on PQ2007 and introduced
proposals for PQ 2011. The new title will be International Exhibition of
Performance Design and Space. The current thinking is that a new title such as
‘Performing Arts and Space’ will enable architecture and scenography to
merge more easily; when separated from scenography, previous architectural





exhibits had been less successful.
There will be space for ‘New Countries’ to be represented through a display of
the work of individual representatives through expositions of individual
countries, live lectures and presentations, and also in the pavilions organized
for individual continents or regions by Theatre Institute.
The central hall has been reserved for a light exhibition. (The Central Hall will
contain several performance venues to be controlled by the Theatre Institute in
Prague.)
Scenofest will have equal standing but will be relocated to other spaces within
the halls. (Scenofest will be held in the building directly behind the main
exhibition hall where the Student Exhibits were housed for PQ 2007)
Comments are welcome from everyone but PQ organisers have requested that
these should be channelled through OISTAT Governing Board or Executive
Committee. Please contact your commission chair to express your view that
will be presented to OISTAT GB/EC. (Reija Hirvikoski will be the Chair of
the Scenography Commission at that time and she welcomes suggestions
at
. She will send suggestions on to Cindy Limauro,
the head of Scenofest 2011 ([email protected])
For Scenofest/PQ Communications - [email protected]
4.4 Other Activities: OISTAT Databases
New Theatre Words
Jerome Maeckelbergh (Belgium) demonstrated his development of the New Theatre
Words website. Any item may be searched by word, letter or picture. This is a very
impressive undertaking and will be available on-line shortly.
Theatre Atlas
Likewise, the structure of an international database of performing arts venues around
the world has been determined and new entries and submissions are being sought for
it to be representative. There will be opportunities for advertising and therefore
generating income for OISTAT activities.
Both these items will be discussed and developed at the PCC meeting in Belgrade,
16-17 September 2009.
5.0 Reports of the Scenography Commission Working Groups
5.1 Sound Working Group – Rick Thomas (USA), Head
 The group met in Stockholm on 15.6.08. The meeting co-ordinated Skype
participation from those not able to be present. Rick introduced problems with
travel costs for participants. The group reaffirmed a prior decision to hold
annual meetings regionally with Skype links, and with major meetings at PQ




and WSD.
The group agreed a revised format for WSD 2009 based on that adopted for
WSD 2005 (Toronto). This has been forwarded to SungChul Kim for inclusion
in WSD 2009 website. Sound Curator: Jethro Z. Joaquin (Phillippines).
Participation in Scenofest: will be smaller than 2007 but quality will be
maintained.
The new Head was elected from 1 July 2008: Steven Brown (UK).
Vote of thanks to Rick Thomas for his work in establishing the Sound
Working Group.
5.2 Costume Working Group – Laura Crow (USA), Head
 Met in Copenhagen prior to SC and AC meetings, 10-13 June, hosted by Lise
Klitten. 18 people in attendance. Everyone was and is welcome! It was a
disappointment that the meeting was not publicised through the Scenography
Commission in advance.
 Programme: visits to court theatre at Kristianborg Castle and theatre costume
collection; Rosenborg Palace and art collection; a tour of Royal Danish Ballet
workshops; Anne Sophie Bruun collection of historical costume;



Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerod; Annette Maslak’s collection of reproduction
clothing for children; and Louisiana Modern Art Museum.
Symposium and Dinner with Danish Stage Designers with speakers from
around the world.
Election of co-Heads: Lise Klitten (Denmark) and Laura Crow (USA) until
2011. Kazue Hatano (Japan) Vice-Head, Nic Ularu (Romania/USA) will be
programme director for 2009, Canan Goknil (Turkey) will be programme
director for 2010.
Meetings in 2009: End of May in Romania ‘Folk Costumes and Cultural
Exchanges in Theatre’; Sept. 2009 in Korea ‘WSD2009,’ just after WSD,

in Oct. 2009 in Japan. 2010 May in Turkey.
There was an atelier visit later on 16.6.08: Anne-Marie Antella, freelance
dance and TV designer.

www.costumes.uconn.edu
5.3 Lighting Design Working Group – Henk van der Geest (Netherlands), Head
 Reported on the success at Scenofest and meeting at PQ 2007.
 Met in Helsinki with Education Commission in May 2008. Meeting later on
16.6.08 in Stockholm.
 The group will contribute to PQ and Scenofest 2011; Henk will co-ordinate.

Scenofest will support young designers with educational advice.


Support for developing OISTAT centres, e.g. Bangladesh and East Africa.
2009 meetings: January in Amsterdam; September for WSD in Korea.
Henk had been appointed in 2000 at the Bregenz meeting and is now on the
OISTAT Executive. He is seeking to share role of Head and responsibility
with a colleague – please volunteer!

www.ilolight.net

– new!
5.4 Set Design Working Group – Miodrag Tabacki (Serbia), Head
 Miodrag is pleased that set design/scenography group is recognised as an
equal entity to the other working groups.
 The group now needs to establish targets.
6.0 Scenography Commission Business
6.1 Membership




There are 46 attendances from 22 nations at this Scenography Commission
meeting.
Participation in the working groups is open to everyone.
Individual membership of OISTAT is open to anyone in a nation where there
is no national centre or fewer than 10 individual members.
In order to avoid recurring misconduct that was occurred in the Scenography
Commission Meeting at Tel Aviv, the membership must be clarified in terms
of its duty as well as its right.
6.2 Guidelines for the Working Groups
 SungChul Kim was concerned that participants in the working groups have


difficulty in obtaining funding and that their participation in OISTAT and
working group events could be made easier by formalising their institution.
It was agreed that SungChul Kim should circulate his proposal for a formal
guidelines for the Working Groups to all members of the Commission in
advance of the next meeting. Working Group Heads will be able to liaise with
the SC Chair to agree details in advance of this. The subject will appear as an
agenda item at the meeting in 2009.
Evcimen Percin (Turkey) suggested that the proposal could be available via
the website with a ‘blog’ for commissioners to share their comments in
advance. Whilst this is possible, it may be simpler to manage comments via
e-mail.
7.0 Any other business
 Laura Crow (USA) proposed that Eloise Kazan (Mexico), PQ 2007 Gold
Medal Winner, be invited to hold a workshop at WSD.
 Rick Thomas (USA) suggested that all PQ medal winners could be invited to
participate in a workshop at WSD.
 Fiona Watt (UK) requested that WSD should be disseminated around the
world for those who cannot attend (e.g. by live web-broadcast).


Peter Ruthven Hall (UK) expressed concern that with around 25
3-dimensional exhibits, there may not be sufficient incentive to generate
interest from representative participants of calibre. Equally, this may also not
attract so many attendances at the event.
Sunniva Thelestam (Sweden) says we must trust the Korean organisers to
make the best event possible.




Ildiko Balla (Hungary) is pleased to be positive about the Korean proposal but
feels we must help ensure that the exhibition is a success, that it is
representative of the world situation and that we should express our concerns
about achieving this.
Elizabeth Asselstine (Canada) is keen that a programme of workshops should
appeal to a wide audience. It will need to attract delegates to Korea.
Members offered their assistance to SungChul Kim to help bring WSD 2009
to fruition.
John Njoroge (Kenya) invited OISTAT members to contribute their expertise
to a major national project e.g. to help build a theatre or stage an event in
Africa.
8.0 Invitations for Next Meeting
 The 2009 Scenography Commission Meeting and Costume Working Group
meeting may be held either in Korea at WSD or in Japan prior to WSD. Dates
and location will be confirmed shortly.
 There were no other formal invitations for future meetings. There were
tentative invitations from Philippines and Hungary.
 SungChul Kim will distribute the guidelines for hosting an OISTAT meeting
to delegates and all present.
There was a vote of thanks to both Sunniva Thelestam and Torsten Nobling for
hosting the Stockholm meetings so successfully.
E: [email protected]
E:
Also in attendance at the joint Scenography and Architecture Commission workshop
Canada
Jacques
Plante
Voting
Canada
Robert
Hamilton
Non-Voting
Canada
Wes
Jenkins
Non-Voting
Czech Rep.
Lenka
Bednarova
Voting
Finland
Juho
Grönholm
Voting
Germany
Reinhold
Daberto
Voting (AC Chair)
Hungary
Mihály
Vargha
Voting
Japan
Toshiya
Kusaka
Malaysia
Netherlands
Netherlands
Netherlands
Poland
Sweden
Taiwan
Taiwan
Turkey
UK
Mac
Caroline
Kiem-Lian
Martien
Piotr
Torsten
Chan
Pu
Evcimen
Anne
Chan
Noteboom
Thé
van Goor
Obracaj
Nobling
Huei Teng
Lin
Percin
Minors
Voting
Individual Member
Non-Voting
Non-Voting
Voting
Voting
Voting
Non-Voting
Voting
Voting
Voting