The calls for submissions for USITT’s exhibitions are now closed.
The original call for submissions is included below for those interested in seeing the invitation to provide a designer’s work for the 2023 Prague Quadrennial.
Call for Submissions
for the
2023 Prague Quadrennial Festival of Performance Space and Design (PQ23)
YOUR PQ23 INVITATION
Greetings Designers and Theatre Artists across All Disciplines and Performance Genres! You are invited to submit design work for consideration to be exhibited at the 2023 Prague Quadrennial (PQ23), the world’s most exciting celebration of theatre artists. From June 8-18, 2023 at the PQ23, The United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. (USITT) will present juried and curated work reflecting inclusion, excellence, and responsibility in US theatre design from both Emerging Designers and National Designers.
The Prague Quadrennial premiered in 1967 during the Cold War. At that time while world governments fought, theatre artists came together to share theatre designs and architecture—and so it has been in Prague every four years since. Today, The Prague Quadrennial (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 PQ23 THEME: RARE
RARE reflects individuality and is only limited by the extent to which one can dream.
The United States exhibit will 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. To that end, USITT will solicit and welcome submissions from all applicants, consistent with all applicable U.S. laws, specifically Title VI of The Civil Rights Act which outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Show how you envision the future of theatre design and what you consider to be RARE. If you do not connect with RARE, as defined by USITT or PQ23, articulate a new perspective in your application.
YOUR DESIGNER IDENTITY: EMERGING or NATIONAL
USITT recognizes that designers and theatre artists span a breadth of career trajectories and self-define in a multitude of ways.
USITT seeks to include work from Emerging Designers—a rising designer within five years of embracing their unique identity as a practicing visual creator; and from National Designers—any visual creator who does not identify as an Emerging Designer.
Individuals must self-determine whether to submit under either National Designer or Emerging Designer. Group or organization collaborations may also be submitted under either National Designer or Emerging Designer. If uncertain, though, groups or organizations may submit the design under both categories for consideration.
Visit USITT at PQ23 for deadline information, as well as a call for educators, adjudication details, lists of jurors and curators, and other FAQs.
As theatre artists around the world anticipate gathering in June 2023 for the 15th edition of the Prague Quadrennial, we hope that you will be among them!
Thank you,
The USITT PQ Curators