1.0 ATTENDANCE
This meeting was held in person on the AC commission visit to Ancient Theatres in Turkey after lunch near Perge.
The following participated:
OISTAT Head Quarters:
nil Taiwan
Members and Guests:
Janne Auvinen Finland
Kate Burnett UK
Aby Cohen Brasil / UK (president)
Reinhold Daberto Germany
Tim Foster UK
Selma Goker Wilson USA (vice-chair)
Jenny Hall UK
Robert Hamilton Canada
Louis Janssen Netherlands
Wes Jenkins Canada
Peter Ruthven Hall UK (vice-chair)
Peter McKinnon Canada
Torsten Nobling Sweden
Mohra Samuel UK
Maaike Westinga Netherlands (chair)
Mark White UK
Nic Ularu USA/Romania
Jeong Sik Yoo Korea (vice-chair)
Apologies:
nil
1.0 Introduction
Maaike introduced the meeting and the topics for discussion.
2.0 Turkey – Antique Theatres, Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 September 2026
We were in the final day of this extraordinary tour of ancient theatres in Turkey which Selma had arranged this with the support of Tim Foster. All present recognised that it was an exceptional tour and exceeded expectations which had been high from the moment the tour was announced.
3.0 Future Meetings
Maaike was keen to agree a programme of future visits noting key milestone events such as the Prague Quadrennial and World Stage Design as well as significant OISTAT events.
2027
Helsinki, Finland - September
Janne has confirmed that he wants to organise the tour to Finland. He made a proposal to include the following route:
Helsinki
National Theatre | renovated
City Theatre | renovated
Finlandia Hall | (Aalto works/UNESCO)
The Culture House | (Aalto works/UNESCO)
Paimio (on the route to Turku)
Sanatorium | (Aalto works/UNESCO)
Turku
City Theatre | renovated
Fuuga | new
Logomo | recent
Tampere
TTT (Tampereen Työväen Teatteri) | waiting for renovation (this is ’Janne’s’ theatre)
Tampere Theatre | renovated
Further details will announced at the on-line December meeting.
2028
South Korea (and Japan)
Jeong-Sik is actively involved in creating technical standards for the theatres in South-Korea and is reaching out to other South Asian countries to ensure the standard gains broader support in the region. He is already in contact with OISTAT centres in Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and Malaisia. Jeong-Sik would like to organise a tour to South-Korea, possibly in combination with a follow-on visit in Japan. To support him and his contacts we decided to have this in 2028 in stead of the Dutch Tour.
Proposed visits are:
Seoul Daehango theatre district
Seoul National Theatre of Korea
Sejong Sener for the Performing Arts
Seoul Arts Center
Seoul Dance Center
Traditional Korean performance spaces, private venues, professional venues, found spaces and adaptive reuse
Busan (3 hours by express train)
Busan Opera House
Busan Concert Hall
Tokyo – additional visits
There would be an opportunity to collaborate with the Technology Commission as there is much interest in the new Korea national standards for venue construction.
Mark White offered input on the UK ABTT safety standards.
2029
World Stage Design 2029, Berlin – June 4-11 (TBD)
The AC will need to devote energy into proposals for a new Theatre Architecture Competition. Maaike will try again to get professional architecture in the WSD-exhibition. We want to have architecture more visible as a part of OISTAT. There was interest in hosting live meetings sharing research on theatre architecture and practical projects such as the interdisciplinary workshop. We decided to have our in-person meeting and tour in Berlin. Visits would be possible in the city, as well as to nearby towns such as Potsdam. Theatre visits would be open to other commissions.
A new chair will be needed when Maaike has to retire, and suggestions of nominees would be welcome. An invitation could go out to the wider AC membership for interested individuals to join a discussion about what it involves and how to participate.
2030
Netherlands
Maaike had previously proposed a Dutch Tour including visits to a range of theatres in the Netherlands. This had been cancelled during covid but could still be reintroduced. Whilst it would be a fine ‘swansong’ to Maaike’s leadership, it could instead follow the other exciting proposals for hosting meetings which offer AC commission members a diverse range of locations.
As a reminder, an official AC meeting and tour should aim to include:
• Theatre visits
• Talking to users of theatre buildings to find out what works and what could be improved
• Spending time on a bus together! (as this allows for good discussions)
• Meeting local architects
• Meeting architectural students (allowing them to listen in to presentations)
• A short business meeting
4.0 Prague Quadrennial, Czechia – June 2027
There was a discussion around our participation in PQ as AC. Architecture is actually no longer part of PQ. OISTAT will organise a ‘Hub’ like they did in 2023. It will be separated from the PQ location, but this is the place to meet and greet the other OISTAT members and commissions. Aby Cohen encouraged the AC to attend and to participate.
Kate Burnett mentioned ‘Space Making’ as a theme for PQ which is equally important to architects and to scenographers. This theme could enable architecture to become an integral element of the PQ event again.
Although there was little interest in making an exhibition, Kate suggested compiling a video of discussions during the on-line presentations throughout the years. Kate and Jenny agreed to curate the range of presentations which describe different buildings by AC commission members. Nic Ularu also offered to arrange a trip from Prague to Bucharest to include visits to theatres including the National Theatre. But since we already have a trip to Finland planned, we didn’t go into this further for now.
5.0 OISTAT Basecamp
Some members are not keen on using Basecamp for communications and sharing of photos and other information. This is despite Selma’s instructions on use. If you are getting too many notifications, there is a way to switch them off or reduce the number. Selma will share photos of the Turkish tour on Basecamp by sending a link to participants to upload and download as required.
6.0 New Members
Aby reported on an earlier meeting in Turkey to encourage potential reformation of an OISTAT Centre. Whilst most potential members are state employees and are prevented from joining other organisations, individual memberships would be possible. She emphasised the importance of connecting members through activities which encourage wider participation. An informal WhatsApp group will be started to engage members in Istanbul, Izmir and Antalya. The same approach might help to expand memberships in Georgia. In Romania this helped to create an OISTAT centre again.
7.0 Future Online Meetings and Activities
• Zoom Meeting Friday 11 December 2025 15.00-17.00 Central European Time.
• 2027 Prague Quadrennial (June 8 to 17)
• 2027 Finland (September)
Suggestions to increase participation are always welcomed so please assist by raising the profile of the AC in your own country. AC activities are open to anyone with an interest in theatre buildings.
Presentations
Sharing our work and knowledge is an important part of the activities from AC. If you have anything to show, share or discuss don’t hesitate to let us know. The size of the project is not an issue at all.
Finding new AC members
Please continue to spread the word and invite colleagues and other interested individuals to participate in the online meetings and AC activities. Also, when joining a theatre visit, please invite younger colleagues to join you. Proposed theatre visits should be popular with a wider community.
All members are requested individually to fill in the form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwnh0KWShYn0VJUfVArgqnMjV7z0MTalrT8n539tOXfFIyog/viewform
Notes compiled by Maaike Westinga with Peter Ruthven Hall. For questions, suggestions or to schedule a presentation
[email protected] / [email protected]
