WORLD STAGE DESIGN 2021 – EXHIBITION INFORMATION
Application
All individual designers wishing to submit to WSD2021 must apply online via the online portal which will open January 30, 2020. Submissions for professional designers will close Sept. 15, 2020 and for emerging designers the portal will close Oct. 31st, 2020. The cost is $25 CAD per submission.
WSD2021 Exhibition
World Stage Design (WSD) is the first and only designer-based exhibition to showcase and celebrate performance design from individual designers. Held every four years, WSD has now travelled to four cities, Toronto, Canada (2005); Seoul, South Korea (2009); Cardiff, Wales, UK (2013); Taipei, Taiwan. The fifth WSD exhibition will be held in Calgary, Canada from August 5th to 15th, 2021.
The WSD2021 exhibitions are open to all designers for performance as defined by the categories below. We encourage individual designers to forward their work for consideration by the international selection jury. While there is no pre-determined theme, during the curatorial process, a theme may emerge based on shared issues from around the world. Designers are invited to attend this global event, which will include Scenofest, offering opportunities for multicultural exchange. Please note, the jury may move a submission from one category to another if the jury members deem appropriate to do so.
Exhibition Criteria
Submissions to the WSD2021 exhibitions must be realized performances, installations, site-specific events, etc. produced between September 2016 and September 2020. The WSD2021 exhibitions will be considered as follows: WSD2021 Exhibition for Professional Designers and the WSD2021 Exhibition for Emerging Designers. The Emerging Designer category is defined for designers who were a student at some time between September 2016 and September 2020. (You will be required to upload a proof of student status document, e.g., diploma or certification.)
Exhibition Categories
The Exhibition will divide into the following categories for both Professional and Emerging Desingers:
Performance Design:
Formerly referred to as Scenography, this category will look at the designer who crosses several of disciplines, such as designers of set and lighting, set and costume, lighting and costume, etc. (It may be possible for an entry for Performance Design being selected by the Jury for only one component of that design)
Space Design:
Space Design as a category in refers directly to design for performance spaces outside of what might be perceived as “standard” scenic/set design. It is likely to include installation and site-specific work but may also be subject to the interpretation of both the designer and ultimately the Jury.
Set Design, Sound Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Projection Design:
Design for Performance in either a traditional or alternative context. It is up to the designer submitting work to determine in which categories they would like to have their work evaluated by the jury.
Alternative:
To be used when the designer feels their work does not fit the above categories.
Special Mentions
The WSD Planning Committee would like to acknowledge achievement in three specific areas. Each designer will be asked to identify if they feel their work should be identified in the following:
Indigenous Design for Performance
The designer may choose to have their work identified for special mention as Indigenous Design for Performance if they identify as an Indigenous Artist as defined by Unesco:
https://en.unesco.org/indigenous-peoples
EcoScenography and/or Sustainable Design
The designer may choose to have their work identified for special mention as ecoscenography and/or sustainable design. Please indicate your reasons for seeing your work in this category of specialization.
Mixed Reality Scenography and Design
The designer may choose to have their work identified for special mention as mixed reality scenography which could include AR/VR/MR and other digital contexts. Please indicate your reasons for seeing your work in this category of specialization.
You will be asked to complete information about yourself and your design submission in your online application, so you may want to prepare your written answers to these sections before beginning your submission.
- Personal details and contact information.
- Production dates, location, and staff.
- Design category.
- Design statement (200 words maximum).
- Digital Files: You may upload a maximum of six digital files in total per entry, and each entry is for only one production and one designer. These files maybe digital images, videos, or sound files, or a combination of these three.
- Biography of 100 words.
- Headshot or Bio Picture, 300dpi.
If you would like to submit several productions, you will apply with a different entry for each production. If you design for multiple categories on one production, you only need to submit one entry, and you may indicate which category is priority for judging. You may submit only 6 files per production.
Each entry will be charged the submission fee of $25 per submission, per production submitted. Each designer may submit an unlimited number of productions. Please check the currency exchange rate with your banking institution.
Image files: Submit in Jpeg format with a minimum of 300 dpi at A4 size.
(2480 X 3508 pixels)
Sound files: Submit 44.1K or 48K sample rate, 16 or 24 bit, in .wav or .aiff format only. Maximum of seven minutes in length.
Video files: Submit the URL link on YouTube. Maximum of three minutes in length.
All files should be clearly labeled as follows:
Designer’s first name initial and last name_ show title_# of file.(file format)
Jane Doe submitting for a production of Hamlet would submit: jdoe_hamlet_1.wav, jdoe_hamlet _2.jpg, jdoe_hamlet _3.jpg
Selection Process
The Selection Juries approved by the WSD2021 Planning Committee will make the final selection from the digital submissions to curate the two exhibitions to be assembled in Calgary. Designers who are selected for the exhibits are required to take responsibility for the delivery of their work to and from Calgary, and they are invited and encouraged to attend the ten days of WSD2021 while their work is on display. The cost of travelling to Calgary and transporting exhibits is the responsibility of the individual exhibitor. The exhibitor agreement will be available online in January 2020.
The Award Jury will be chosen from among the distinguished international presenters and keynote speakers for WSD2021. Awards may be bestowed in each of the categories.
Should any applicant have difficulties with online application please contact info.wsd@ucalgary.ca for assistance.
