Prague Quadrennial Exhibits Unveiled
On Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 Florida State University’s School of Theatre (FSU) unveiled the 2023 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space (PQ23) U.S. exhibits at the school’s Richard G. Fallon Theatre. Guests were invited to experience the designs first-hand before they head off for a stop at USITT23 in St. Louis. From there the two exhibits will then be shipped to Prague for the PQ23 taking place June 8-18, 2023.
The Prague Quadrennial premiered in 1967 during the Cold War. At that time while world governments fought, theater artists came together to share theater designs and architecture—and so it has been in Prague every four years since. Today, the PQ has been rebranded a festival in recognition of the need to experience design and scenography in its performative format—live and with audience engagement. The United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. (USITT) has sponsored the United States Exhibition at the PQ since the first US exhibition in 1972. Holding to the USITT mission of connecting people of all ages, the US exhibition is the only exhibition at the event that is built by students.
Florida State University was chosen out of dozens of universities across the country as the build site to represent the U.S.A. at the PQ23 by USITT. FSU was an ideal location due to their capabilities, facilities and the resources of its theater program. “We are incredibly excited to be unveiling these works in the Fallon Theatre,” said James Frazier, dean of FSU’s College of Fine Arts. “Being selected as the build team for the Prague Quadrennial is a great honor and is indicative of the high caliber of our technical theater program.” USITT President Carolyn Satter and Patrick Rizzotti, Chair of USITT International Activities Committee spoke about the importance of the PQ and FSU participation in PQ23 at the unveiling as well.
Known as “the Olympics of performance design,” the Prague Quadrennial hosts tens of thousands of designers, scholars and professionals from around the globe. The two designs, the PQ23 National Exhibit and the PQ23 Student Exhibit, were both constructed at FSU by the build team, led by Jim Lile, associate professor of technical production, eight FSU School of Theatre technical production graduate students and several theater faculty members.
During PQ23, USITT will present the juried and curated work reflecting inclusion, excellence, and responsibility in U.S. theater design from both Emerging Designers and National Designers. The PQ23 theme is RARE, which reflects individuality and is only limited by the extent to which one can dream. The United States exhibits celebrate RARE design submissions that support the inclusion of under-represented communities, acknowledge stories born from systemic power structures and historical events, and document the recent Covid-19 pandemic. The range of curated designs that will represent PQ23 RARE artistic forms include forward-thinking, unexpected, socially conscious, atypical, innovative, out-of-the-box, and traditional designs. Those interested in helping FSU’s build team travel to Prague to represent the United States at the PQ23 can visit www.spark.fsu.edu/pq23 to donate.
The 1/52 Project Now Accepting Applications for 2023 Grants
The 1/52 Project, launched in Jan. 2022, is a financial grant program that offers $15,000 grants to provide financial support to encourage rising designers from historically excluded groups. The project’s aim is to diversifying and strengthening the Broadway design community. There is $100,000 in grant money available, with a May 15, 2023 deadline to apply for the 2023 grants. Last year, seven young designers received portions of the grant money. “We are excited to launch a second year and grateful for the outpouring of support we’ve already received as we make the 1/52 Project an annual effort,” says designer Beowulf Boritt, who founded this initiative.
Candidates of diverse backgrounds representing the full spectrum of theatrical activity, including those who have worked in non-traditional venues, are encouraged to apply to this program. The 1/52 Project considers all women as part of a historically excluded group. You can find all of the application criteria for 2023 grants at: https://www.oneeveryfiftytwo.org/criteria
The 1/52 project is funded by designers with shows running on Broadway who are encouraged to donate one week every year of their weekly royalties to this fund, thus the name of 1/52 Project. https://www.oneeveryfiftytwo.org/contributors Anyone can contribute via tax-deductible donations made online: https://www.oneeveryfiftytwo.org/contribute.
