OISTAT

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.

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 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.

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