NOW/NEXT Performance Space at the Crossroads

AN EXHIBITION AS OPEN SPATIAL LABORATORY @ PQ’11
PRESENTING THEATRE ARCHITECTURE NOW AND WHAT IT COULD BE NEXT

The aim of the PQ ‘11 Architecture Section is to provoke architects, theatre-makers, and the public into re-thinking the potential of performance space in the new century by creating a dynamic meeting space at the PQ for presenting, representing, and discussing new ideas.

Is performance space new, found, recycled, old, fresh, safe, or dangerous? Is it inside, outside, traditional, or radical? Is it a purpose-built venue, a found site, a virtual world, or simply any space creatively claimed by performance?

The site-specific installation in Prague Crossroads – St. Anne’s Church will house exhibits organized by curators of exhibiting countries and regions, as well as commissioned media screenings, an open laboratory, and other scheduled and spontaneous events, including guest lectures, panels, and presentations.

The exhibition as an event-space, will consist of three parts:

THEATRE ARCHITECTURE NOW:

NATIONAL/REGIONAL EXHIBITS installed by over 30 countries from Oceania, the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

PERFORMANCE SPACE BETWEEN:

COMMISSIONED VIDEOS, created by those researching the intersection between performance and space, projected in a multi-level MEDIA TOWER..

THEATRE ARCHITECTURE NEXT:

An OPEN LABORATORY with an ongoing workshop for postgraduates and emerging practitioners. This includes presentations, discussions and reviews from leading designers and theorists in the fields of architecture, performance design and spatial thinking..

More information about the workshop and call for participation:
Open Laboratory - Information and Call for participants
On-line application form.

The section will provide a site for spontaneous and planned performances enacted by those who physically explore the performative potential of space. It will also house the Theatre Architecture Competition run every four years by the Architecture Commission of OISTAT (International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians) which is open to students and emerging designers.

The Architecture Section is sited in the ancient deconsecrated St. Anne’s Church - Prague Crossroads, which was established by Václav Havel (dissident, playwright, and former president of the Czech Republic) as a space to promote international cultural dialogue. In NOW/NEXT we will analyse performance space at the crossroads: between old and new centuries, between the present and the future, between performing and building, between scenography and architecture,

… between NOW and NEXT.


Commissioner of the Architecture Section: Dorita Hannah (NZ)
Location of the Architecture Section: Prague Crossroads (St Anne´s Church)
See the list of countries and regions
The Architecture Section is competitive – see the PQ Jury
For exhibitors – download the Manual, photos and plans of Prague Crossroads




Illustration
Project: L’Opéra-palette
Conception: L’Architecte Jacques Plante (www.architectjacquesplante.com)
Engineering: Pascale Pierre
Illustration: Alexandre Guérin
Client: Opéra de Québec