News & Notices
Launches PQ'15 Exhibit Design Competition
The 2015 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space will be the 11th time in 40 years that USITT sends a USA National Exhibit to the world’s largest design event. But for the first time, USITT is holding a competition to design the exhibit space.
The competition starts now, with USITT seeking design submissions for an architectural and sculptural space to house a curated show of the best in American theatrical design. The exhibit’s theme is Art in Performance Design: Dreams of Here and Now. The competition is open until February 8 to individuals and teams, students and professionals.
USITT has recruited an all-star team of designers – Tony Walton, Kevin Rigdon, and Carrie Robbins -- to adjudicate the competition and serve as curators for the exhibit’s content, said Markéta Fantová, USITT’s Vice President for International Activities and Artistic Director for the USITT-USA Exhibit to PQ 2015.
The winning exhibit space should be not just a gallery, but a work of art in itself, Ms. Fantová and Mr. Rigdon say. “It should reflect the dynamic and diverse landscape of American performance, and celebrate performance design as an art,” they wrote. The space will be used to exhibit a curated show of scenic, lighting, costume and performance designs presented in a multi-media format that creates an interactive experience for the spectator.
Exhibit design submissions must follow competition guidelines and specifications including a footprint of approximately 30 by 36 feet, a materials budget of $25,000, and the ability to tour to other venues. Submission deadline is February 8, and finalists will be notified by February 22. The finalists’ design concepts will be displayed at the Milwaukee 2013 Annual Conference & Stage Expo. The winner will be announced shortly thereafter.
Submissions may be made at usitt.org/pq15, where complete guidelines can be found.
The USITT PQ ’11 USA exhibit, titled From the Edge, was designed by scenographer William Bloodgood with a team headed by Susan Tsu. For the PQ web page, visit www.pq.cz.
