USITT is seeking to select individual designers or teams to design the USITT National Exhibit, and Emerging Artist Exhibit, Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space 2023. The winning designers/teams will work closely with the artistic director and the exhibit curators to create the actual design of the two exhibits to reflect the theme and artistic statement of PQ 2023. The deadline for submission is Jan. 8, 2021.

We are seeking conceptual design submissions for the National Exhibit, which will showcase the best professional design work of the last four years, and for the Emerging Artist Exhibit, which will showcase the best student and early career design work of the last four years. The winning designers/team submissions will be architectural and sculptural spaces with curated performance designs presented in a multimedia format that creates an interactive experience for the spectator.  Each exhibit should reflect the dynamic and diverse landscape of American performance and celebrate performance design as art. We are looking for the exhibits to be an environment that goes beyond an exhibition space that documents design to become a transformative performance experience.  The design needs to reflect an open concept (no fully enclosed pavilions), be accessible to all visitors, creatively address sonic and visual intrusion from other exhibits, and be adaptable to exhibiting the content in smaller venues in the future.

The Prague Quadrennial (PQ) is the largest performance design event in the world; it is often described as the Olympics or World Fair for performance designers. In recent times, the PQ has served as a meeting point for artists from every continent, artists whose traditions and professional lives might not otherwise converge. By exhibiting thousands of designs from dozens of countries, and by bringing together designers, directors, students, as well as the general public, the PQ provides an unprecedented exchange of ideas that goes well beyond the narrow confines of theatrical design and style. With four major categories of exhibits; National, Thematic, Architectural and Emerging Artist, the PQ has been a major factor in shaping the direction of world theatre and live performance for the past forty years.

 

USITT – USA National Exhibit Design Competition Guidelines

Any Theatrical Designer, Exhibit Designer, Interior Designer, Interior Architect, or Architect may submit a design concept. You do not need to be a member of USITT to enter.

To enter, prepare and submit:
• 5-10 images of your design concept including a ground plan in PDF format.
• A statement describing your design concept
• Your/team member resumes
• Your/team members portfolios
• Your/teams contact information including name, address, phone number and email

Send your submission material here.

Judging

A panel of design professionals will select the winning designers or teams. It is at the judge’s discretion to not select a winner.

The deadline for submission is Jan. 8, 2021. Winners will be announced Feb. 15, 2021. Submissions will not be returned.

For more information contact USITT.

Design Parameters and Specification

1. Exhibit space footprint of each exhibit: approximately 20’x20’. Depending on location and adjacent exhibits, one, two or three sides will be in full view.

2. Height and weight limits dependent on location.

3. Plan on an occupant capacity of at least 30 people as a basic constant and traffic of max. 100 people per hour.

4. The exhibit must be fully accessible.

5. Exhibit materials budget for both exhibits is $25,000.00. Labor, tools and shop are provided.

6. Exhibit and all supporting material must fit in one 40’ shipping container. Shipping is separate from exhibit materials budget.

7. The hall housing all national exhibits will have existing lighting conditions and possible soundscapes from other exhibits. Sound and lighting conditions should be taken into consideration in the proposed design.

8. Basic power is provided specifications are available. Power conversions to 220VAC must be planned.

9. All lighting, sound, and projection equipment and controls must be included in the exhibit materials budget (however there are options to seek donations or borrow equipment from companies affiliated with USITT). USITT has an inventory of lighting equipment, headsets, iPads and electronic displays available to use.

10. Exhibit needs to be designed to be adaptable to tour to other venues.