The Prague Quadrennial is celebrating its 50th anniversary as the world's biggest scenography and theatre architecture event. It is organised by the Czech Republic's Ministry of Culture and is produced by the Arts and Theatre Institute. The Quadrennial showcases scenography in the broadest sense of the term and in all its many guises, shining a light on this distinctive art form that seeks to create spectacular spaces and imaginary worlds. Every four years, the event offers a new vision and fresh perspective on this artistic field, marking the Quadrennial out as an unmissable international platform for training opportunities and experience sharing. It also runs an international competition.
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After a 15-year break, France will be taking part in this high-profile event in 2019. The country's attendance is a real boon to all scenography professionals, and is key to bolstering artistic collaboration between European countries. Taking part in the Quadrennial will be an opportunity to showcase France's vibrant creative scene and artists, as well as the excellence of its educational establishments devoted to artistic creation.
Scenographer and theatre director Philippe Quesne, who is also the director of the Nanterre-Amandiers National Drama Centre in France, has been appointed artistic director for the French contingent. He is thus responsible for coordinating France's two exhibition pavilions in Prague:
- A "France" pavilion featuring one of his unique artistic creations entitled Microcosm;
- A "Schools" pavilion, La Neuvième école ("The Ninth School"), designed to showcase the work carried out by a dedicated project team, comprised of students from eight French higher education institutions that offer specific training in scenography. This "Ninth school" offers an original selection of student work imagined by their teachers, who opted for the creation of a space in which young people could let their imaginations run free rather than a selection process and a competition between students.
The French presence at the Quadrennial is coordinated by ARTCENA, the French National centre for circus arts, street arts and theatre, with the support of the French Ministry of Culture (DGCA), the French Institute, the French Institute in Prague. It is coproduced by the Nanterre-Amandiers National Drama Centre.
This event is organised in partnership with the eight higher education institutions teaching scenography in France:
- École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Nantes,
- École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (Paris),
- École nationale supérieure des arts et techniques du théâtre (Lyon),
- École nationale supérieure d’architecture Paris La Villette,
- École nationale supérieure d’architecture Paris-Malaquais,
- Haute école des arts du Rhin (Mulhouse/Strasbourg),
- École du Théâtre national de Strasbourg,
- Université Sorbonne-Nouvelle Paris 3.
And in partnership with the Maison Jean Vilar and the Union des scénographes – UDS.
Download the press kit
Download original artpress supplement dedicated to France at Prague Quadrennial 2019