On the morning of 10 April, the opening ceremony of the 2014 OISTAT Technology Commission Meeting and "Theatre Technology Education and Curriculum" Symposium was opened at the Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA).
The meeting this year was co-sponsored by OISTAT Technology Commission, China Association of Stage Art (CASA) and Shanghai Theatre Academy, and co-organized by Shanghai Stage Art Association, STA's Stage Design Department and Shanghai Multimedia Virtual Space Synthesis Laboratory. Stage technology experts from 15 countries and regions, including Russia, Germany, Holland, United States, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Canada, Finland, Belgium, Philippines, Egypt, Czech, Serbia, Hungary, Sweden, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Xie Yue, Vice Chairman of China Entertainment Technology Association, Wang Xueyong, Deputy Director of Science and Technology Division of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV, as well as leaders of CASA, Shanghai Stage Art Association and representatives of STA teachers and students, also attended the opening ceremony.
On behalf of STA President Han Sheng and all STA teachers and students, Wang Luwei, Dean of STA Stage Design Department made the welcoming speech. He said, " In recent years, the fast economic growth, social progress and increase in people's living standard in China has made an increasingly higher requirement for the development of culture and arts. In the Yangtze River Delta alone, over 40 grant theatres and other theatres have been newly built. There has been huge expectations on STA with a history of nearly 70 years, no matter in producing talents or meeting the management needs. These are exactly the themes of this year's annual meeting, as well as the new topics for exploration by theatre professionals. It is hoped that we would discuss, exchange, think and make progress together during the short period of these few days and bring home rich and solid results." The opening ceremony was chaired by Yin Tianfu, Associate Dean of STA Stage Design Department.
To be held side by side with the annual meeting is the academic seminar on the theme of "theatre technology education and curriculum system", focusing especially on the discussions about how to cultivate professional theatre technicians and how to align the university education with the social needs for talents. Speakers at the symposium will include the following international and Chinese experts, who will share their presentations on and around the theme of the symposium.
Mr Ivo Kersmaeker, Chair, OISTAT Technology Commission
Prof John Mayberry, Associate Professor, Department of Drama, York University, Canada
Mr Gerbrand Borgdorff, Theatre Arcjotecture Consultant
Mr Mahmoud Serry, Member, Theatre and Stage Design Technology Centre, Egypt
Mr Gerry van Hezewyk, Production Director, Faculty of Drama, University of Alberta, Canada (former Technical Director, Cirque du Soleil)
Prof Michael Ramsaur, Professor of Lighting Design, Stanford University
Ms Laura van Haperen, Representative, OISTAT Holland Centre
Dr Romana Boskovic, Associate Professor of Stage Architectural Design, University of Sudbury
Mr Zhang Xu, Vice President, CASA and General Manager, China Vision
Prof Li Wei, Vice President, CASA and Dean, State Art Department, National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts
Mr Sha Xiaolan, Famous lighting designer, Director of CASA Lighting Arts Committee and Grade 1 Stage Lighting Designer, Oriental Song and Dance Company
Besides, special arrangements were made as part of this year's annual meeting for the foreign stage technology experts to have face-to-face interaction with the Year 2013 theatre management students of STA Stage Design Department during which the foreign experts asked in detail about the curriculum system , extracurricular practice models and other related information. In the afternoon, accompanied by the teachers of STA Stage Design Department, the foreign experts visited Xiong Foxi Building, New Space Theatre and Red Teaching Building. They also observed the rehearsal of the musical theatre students at Duan Jun Theatre, as well as the technical synthesis at New Space Theatre.
TIPS: The full name of OISTAT is International Organization of Scenographers Theatre Architects and Technicians. Established in 1968, OISTAT has six commissions, namely, Architecture, Research, Performance Design, Technology, Publication and Communication, Education. In March 2013, the Joint Meeting of OISTAT Research Commission and OISTAT Performance Commission, along with the " Stage Arts in Cross- Cultural/Native Cultural Context" Symposium, was held successfully at the Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA). The 2014 OISTAT Technology Commission Meeting and "Theatre Technology Education and Curriculum" Symposium is now in progress.
Mr Ivo Kersmaeker, Chair, OISTAT Technology Commission gives a speech
Mr Cai Tiliang, Former President of CASA, gives a speech
Famous Lighting Designer Mr Sha Xiaolan,
Chair of CASA Lighting Committee, gives a keynote speech
Group Photo of Meeting Participants
