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.
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 OISTAT itself and other OISTAT member countries. CITT/ICTS members may also seek information concerning live performance practice in other OISTAT member countries through CITT/ICTS's 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.
2025-2029 OISTAT President and Executive Members
Newly Elected President & Executive Committee Members
Held every four years, the OISTAT World Congress successfully concluded during World Stage Design 2025 on Octobre 23. OISTAT announced the newly elected President and Executive Committee members who will serve from 2025 to 2029, and welcomed two new centre members to the OISTAT family: ScenoLab Australia and Irish Society of Performance Designers - ISPD.
Newly Elected President: Aby Cohen (Brazil)
Newly Elected Executive Committee:
• Mia David (Serbia)
• William Kenyon (USA)
• Johan Mansfeldt (Sweden)
• Suzanne Osmond (Australia)
• Jan Štěpánek (Czech Republic)
• April Viczko (Canada)
• Samuel Shih-Hsing Wang (Taiwan)
Newly Elected Commission Chairs
OISTAT also held 9 commission and sub-commission meetings during WSD 2025. On October 22, they announced the election of 4 new Chairs who will lead and support the work of the Technology Commission, Education Commission, Space Design Sub-Commission, and Publication & Communication Commission from 2025 to 2029.
• Chih-Feng Chen (Taiwan) – Chair, Technology Commission
• Kathrine Sandys (UK) – Chair, Education Commission
• Soledad Sanchez Valdez (Peru-USA) – Chair, Space Design Sub-Commission
• Richard Bryant (USA) – Chair, Publication & Communication Commission
Emerging and Professional Winners Announced
Winners of the International Design Exhibition and Competition were announced during the Closing & Award Ceremony of World Stage Design 2025. From over 700 submissions worldwide, 100 outstanding works were selected and exhibited at the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy. Among them, 38 international designers were honored on stage for their exceptional creativity and contributions to the global theatre design community.
CITT/ICTS MEMBERS PRESENCE ON OISTAT'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Active Commissioner: April Viczko, designer, educator, member of CITT/ICTS and the Associated Designers of Canada, and projet leader of World Stage Design 2022 in Calgary, was elected on the OISTAT Executive Committee as Secretary in October 2021. She was re-elected as Treasurer in October 2025 for another four-year term ending in 2029.
Previously: 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 |