OISTAT stands for l'Organisation Internationale des Scénographes, Techniciens et Architectes de Théâtre - International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians. Officially founded in Prague in 1967, the office is now based in Taiwan.
The Mission of OISTAT is:
- To stimulate the exchange of ideas and innovations, and to promote international collaboration in professions which support live performance.
- To promote the formation of national centres in each country in order to achieve these aims.
- To encourage life-long learning among live performance practitioners;
- To respect the integrity of all cultures and celebrate the diversity as well as the similarities of those who work in support of live performance.
To this end OISTAT has Centres in 34 countries around the world with combined membership of over 12,000 members; six active Commissions undertaking a variety of projects in the areas of Education, Technology, Scenography, History and Theory, Publication and Communication, and Architecture; and a growing active presence worldwide through its website.
OISTAT COMMISSIONS
CITT/ICTS is the Canadian Centre of OISTAT. As such, CITT/ICTS members automatically become members of OISTAT.
CITT/ICTS members are invited to participate in projects initiated by other OISTAT member countries. CITT/ICTS members may also seek information concerning live performance practice in other OISTAT member countries through CITT/ICTS OISTAT Commissioners.
The Commissioners liaise with CITT/ICTS members to encourage them to participate in and initiate international projects. Contact the appropriate CITT/ICTS OISTAT Commissioner to obtain information on current projects or visit our website. The CITT/ICTS National Office can assist you in contacting the CITT/ICTS OISTAT Commissioners, or nominating yourself for a Commissioner position.
The Candidate nominations from OISTAT Centres and Associate Members should include a letter of nomination from the OISTAT Centre or the OISTAT Associate Member, the candidate’s CV and the candidate’s statement of intent. Nominations from Individual Members should include a letter of nomination from the nominator, the candidate’s CV and the candidate’s statement of intent.
OPEN CALLS - DEADLINE JUNE 18, 2025 : Call for Candidates for the Chair of OISTAT Education Commission / Call for Candidates for the Chair of OISTAT Space Design Sub-Commission / Call for Candidates for the Chair of OISTAT Technology Commission
To view the current News and Call for Candidates for Chair of OISTAT Commissions, please click here.
OISTAT President and Executive Members - Nominations 2025-2029
The OISTAT Headquarters has received a total of one nomination for President 2025-2029 and a total of eleven nominations for Executive Committee Members 2025-2029 from OISTAT Centres as of March 31, 2025. The election will take place at the OISTAT World Congress on October 23, 2025 during World Stage Design 2025. The election for President will be carried out before the election for Executive Committee Members.
Candidate for President (ONE to be elected): Aby Cohen (Brazil)
Candidates for Executive Committee Members (SEVEN to be elected): Mia David (Serbia), Maarit Kalmakurki (Finland), William Kenyon (USA), Lise Klitten (Denmark), Johan Mansfeldt (Sweden), Suzanne Osmond (Australia), Patrick Rizzotti (USA), Jan Štěpánek (Czech Republic), April Viczko (Canada), Samuel, Shih-Hsing Wang (Taiwan), Faiz Zahir (Bangladesh).
- CLICK HERE for more information on each candidate.
CITT/ICTS MEMBERS PRESENCE ON OISTAT'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
In October 2021, April Viczko, designer, educator, member of the Associated Designers of Canada as well as CITT/ICTS, and projet leader of World Stage Design 2022 in Calgary, was elected on the OISTAT Executive Committee as Secretary.
Al Cushing, CEO of the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse was elected on the OISTAT Executive Committee at the World Congress held in Seoul in September 2009 and served until 2010. Before him, Peter McKinnon, lighting designer and professor at York University has served on the Executive Committee for many years.
View the current OISTAT Executive Committee.
OISTAT MEETINGS IN CANADA
CITT/ICTS proudly hosted the OISTAT Education Commission Meeting in 2007 during the 2007 Annual Conference held in Vancouver. Other meetings held in Canada include an Executive Committee meeting hosted by Peter McKinnon at Buckshot Lake Ontario in 2003. CITT/ICTS also welcomed the presence of OISTAT delegates at the OISTAT 2005 World Congress in Toronto, and at CITT/ICTS' Rendez-vous 2023 Annual Conference and Trade Show in Calgary, Alberta.
List of OISTAT Members and Associate Centres
Click here for the list of Members.
Click here for the list of Associate Centres.
OISTAT Meetings & Events List - 2025
| Date | Meetings & Events | Location |
| January 17 | OISTAT Research Commission 2024 Research Showcase | Online |
| January 28 | Technology Commission Meeting | Online |
| February 22 | Performance Design Commission Meeting | Online |
| March 5-8 | USITT Columbus 2025: Annual Conference & Stage Expo | Columbus, USA |
| March 6 | Lighting Design Sub-Commission Meeting at USITT Columbus | Columbus, USA + Online |
| March 7 | Architecture Commission Meeting | Online |
| March 8 | Costume Design Sub-Commission Meeting | Online |
| April TBD | Performance Design Commission WSD Project Meeting | Online |
| April 14 | Theatre Architecture Competition Submission Deadline | |
| April 16-17 | EXPO-SCÈNE 2025 | Montreal, Canada |
| May 20-22 | SHOWTECH25 | Berlin, Germany |
| June 5 | Lighting Design Sub-Commission Meeting | Online |
| June 15 | Technical Invention Prize Submission Deadline | |
| June 18 | Costume Design Sub-Commission Meeting | Online |
| June 20 | Architecture Commission Meeting | Online |
| September 4 | Lighting Design Sub-Commission Meeting | Online |
| September 10 | Costume Design Sub-Commission Meeting | Online |
| September 19 | Architecture Commission Meeting | Online |
| October 18-25 | World Stage Design 2025 | Sharjah, UAE |
| October 19-20 | Theatre Architecture Tour Sharjah | |
| October 20-23 | Sound Kitchen | |
| October 21-22 | OISTAT Commission & Sub-Commission Meetings | |
| October 23 | OISTAT World Congress | |
| October 24 | OISTAT Executive Committee & Governing Board Meetings | |
| December 4 | Lighting Design Sub-Commission Meeting | Online |
| December 6 | Performance Design Commission Meeting | Online |
| December 10 | Costume Design Sub-Commission Meeting | Online |
| December 12 | Architecture Commission Meeting | Online |
| December TBD | OISTAT Research Commission Research Showcase | Online |