Ryan Fletcher, left, is presented with one of the 2007 Student International Travel Awards by Treva Reimer at the Awards Banquet which culminated the Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Photo/Tom Thatcher

Sandy Bonds
Vice-President for International Activities

Students, do you have a research or design project with an international component? Need funding to travel to a theatre or library collection overseas? The USITT Student International Travel Award is a biennial award offered to students who seek funding for theatre design, technology, and research related international travel. The award amount is $1,000, and is supported by the Samuel H. Scripps International Fund.

Eligible projects may be developed from a wide variety of topics from research, education, and production assignments to attending theatre festivals. The next round of applications, due on January 7, will be for the award period of March 2009 to March 2010. One award winner will be selected, and the award will be presented at the Annual Conference & Stage Expo in Cincinnati.

Students who are current USITT members with junior, senior, or graduate standing are encouraged to apply for this award. The application is available online. In addition, applicants are asked to compose a project narrative (500 word maximum) describing the project, destination(s), planned timetable, budget, and goals while overseas. The application should include a letter of recommendation from a current teacher, a resume, and, for design applications, 10 images of recent work. For information and to submit an application, project narrative, and portfolio by e-mail, contact Sandy Bonds at abonds@uoregon.edu.

A report of the project is required by the end of the award year, either in the form of a conference presentation, an article, or other written/visual documentation. Student winners from 2007 will present their research findings at the 2009 Cincinnati Conference & Stage Expo.

Ryan Fletcher, a graduate of Stanford University, traveled to Prague to investigate the intersection between engineering and lighting design. Annelie Thurin, a graduate from the University of Oregon, attended the Prague Quadrennial and Scenofest to document the use of non-traditional, recycled materials, paper, and found objects into costume design.

They will be joined by the Member International Travel Award winner from 2008, Peter Beaudert, who will present his further findings on the exquisite scene painting techniques practiced at the Paris opera in the nineteenth century. This session will be held 12:15 p.m. Friday, March 20.

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