November 3, 2021

President Letter to OISTAT Members
Dear OISTAT friends,
Thank you to everyone attending to the OISTAT Online World Congress and to those who
were unable to attend, please know that we sincerely miss you and hope you are all well.
OISTAT World Congress 2021 stood out for its first online edition and simultaneouslytranslation in three languages: Mandarin, Arabic and Spanish. It was a great opportunity
for non-members to join OISTAT meetings and activities, reuniting participants from over
40 countries in an amazing six-day journey!
The congress programme included sessions specially dedicated to present, reflect anddebate on relevant topics and projects; among others: OISTAT’s relationship with otherinternational NGOs, sustainability, the Theatre Architecture Competition (TAC), TechnicalInvention Prize (TIP), the announcement of the selected designers for WSD2022 exhibition
and a taste of how inspiring next WSD edition in Calgary will be through the panel“Indigenous Ways of Learning”.
We also had great moments of fun during the “happy hour”, the “silent disco” and inmoments of improvisation. It was almost a week together to share knowledge, creativity,thoughts, joy and memories; moments to smile, to laugh, thrill and to toast. To toast thereconnecting and a new beginning, after the profound changes caused by the pandemic in
the last two years, which still affects us and that will continue to reflect in the future.
On the one hand, if the immobilization imposed by the pandemic was disturbing, it has
also mobilized us towards fruitful openings, untangling the way we live, work, think andrelate to others, inviting us to a journey within ourselves. Perhaps a necessary break toreplenish our artwork and critical view of our ambition for the world, in the world andwhat we want to point out or fight for.
Theatre and Performance, as Art, continually inspires, challenges and encourages us toreview our way of thinking and imagining the world we want to portray. A transforming
force that puts us in constant confrontation with our limits and possibilities, take us out of1

our comfort zone, leads to adversity to learn to keep us active and creative in the midst of
the most unfavourable conditions.
Step by step, we realised how we could get closer, and it was beautiful how much weshared our workspace and household, allowing to see throughout the window,
overlooking each other`s “place” and getting to know each other a little more. We werealso able to make new friends, meet more often and speak in different languages.
Over the past two years, we have probably spent more time expressing ourselves verbally –speaking, writing texts and emails – than we could through drawings, colors, shapes,
materials, gestures and sounds, something that certainly affects and makes us uneasy. With
that in mind, I would like this letter to be a drawing, but it would take a little longer todeliver; then… I thought … how wonderful it would be if we could all drawing it together.
I imagine this like a blank canvas with the words written in magic ink and invite you tosave this moment and the words to memory, and then, release its materiality, returning to a
blank canvas where we can trace a new stage for what is to come, for what we will all dotogether at OISTAT.
I am immensely grateful for the trust and affection of this community, manifested by theexpressive approval in the elections. I am really thrilled to become the first Latin/Brazilianin OISTAT history, and the second woman, after our dear Maija Pekkanen to serve as
President of this organization for a four-year term. My special thanks to the OISTAT Centreof Portugal - APCEN for the nomination, making this possible.
I take this opportunity to thank the former president and EC members; to congratulate theelected EC members and the elected Chairs of the Education commission, the Sound andSpace design sub-commissions; to thank all commissions and participants for thesignificant program presented and, last but not least, the HQ for organizing the event sowell that it ran smoothly. I also want to congratulate the candidates who were not elected
this time and the OISTAT Centres for their nominations; I look forward to working with allof you, so stay close, let's talk and share our views and ideas, everyone's collaboration isvery important.

2With great joy and energy, I will continue - along with our incredible HQ team, the EC, GBand all the OISTAT members - the work and affection dedicated by the former President
Bert Determann to this organization. It will be a pleasure and learning experience to workwith the former president in this transition period, counting on his vision and knowledge.
Moving forward I wish to strengthen direct communication with OISTAT Centres and itsmembers, Associate members and Individual members. Seeking a horizontal management
as possible, taking advantage of this moment that provides facilities to expand
communication, dialogue, access, inclusion and participation. And also, to promoteinterdisciplinary intersections within OISTAT commissions in the continuity of OISTAT
projects and events, as well as to creating new and inspiring events together with all ourmembers worldwide. Projects that are only possible because they are made by the peopleof the OISTAT community!
See you soon online and/or face-to-face. Let’s stay connected around the world andthrough the following events: World Stage Design 2022, SENA 2022 and the Commissions
meetings 2022 that soon will be announced.
Feel free to get in touch.
My very best wishes to you all!

Aby Cohen
PresidentInternational Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians
Organisation Internationale des Scénographes, Techniciens et Architectes de Théâtre
Suite L, Center for Innovation Taipei (CIT), No.1, Yumen St., Taipei 10452, Taiwan
Tel: +886 2 25962294 Fax: +886 2 25981647
Web: www.oistat.org Email: headquarters@oistat.org

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