International READY.SET Design Comeptition
Victory Hall Opera [VHO]—in partnership with VMDO Architects of Charlottesville, Virginia—is inviting entries for a modular set design competition. VHO challenges all assumptions about the presentation and interpretation of opera, and is seeking a set design that will rethink what a set can be.
The multidisciplinary jury includes Beth Morrison (Beth Morrison Projects, PROTOTYPE Festival); Ethan McSweeny (American Shakespeare Center); Miriam Gordon-Stewart (VHO); Sara Brown (MIT); and Robert Long (Theater Consultants Collaborative).
Jury members will select three finalists at the Tom Tom Summit and Festival, on April 11, 2019, based on criteria of creativity, versatility, a high-end design aesthetic, acoustics, stability and ease of construction.
Three finalists will receive a stipend to further develop and refine their design with VHO over the summer of 2019. VHO will select one Winning Entry in July 2019.The winning design will be constructed and used in VHO’s mainstage productions. The design will also be available as an affordable, licensed download from VHO, allowing smaller arts orgs with minimal resources to produce contemporary, mobile, versatile sets.VHO and VMDO seek to find a solution to widespread challenges: As more opera and theater companies are producing smaller-scale, experimental work in alternative or “pop-up” venues, with minimal production budgets, the challenge remains to utilize contemporary, effective design that can not only fit into alternative venues, but can also enhance them visually and acoustically.
DESIGN SUBMISSIONS SHOULD:
cost no more than $10,000 total
require no more than 8 man-hours to assemble (2 people in 4 hours) after initial fabrication
when disassembled, be transportable in a 10′ UHAUL truck
be sturdy enough to safely support actors
be durable enough to serve for at least 30 performances, through 10 dis- and re-assemblies, with minimal maintenance
contain elements that can be easily moved or reconfigured within a performance
demonstrate versatility in terms of possible configurations and low-cost customizations
serve as acoustic aids, i.e., help to project or amplify the unamplified human voice
JUDGING CRITERIA:
Jurors will evaluate designs based on:
creativity and innovation
cost and ease of fabrication and construction/assembly, portability
stability, durability, and mobility onstage
versatility of assembly: customizability, transformational possibility onstage
design aesthetic: originality, clarity, modernity, beauty, integrity
acoustic functionality
Short Description
Victory Hall Opera [VHO]—in partnership with VMDO Architects of Charlottesville, Virginia—is inviting entries for a modular set design competition. VHO challenges all assumptions about the presentation and interpretation of opera, and is seeking a set design that will rethink what a set can be. VHO and VMDO seek to find a solution to widespread challenges: As more opera and theater companies are producing smaller-scale, experimental work in alternative or “pop-up” venues, with minimal production budgets, the challenge remains to utilize contemporary, effective design that can not only fit into alternative venues, but can also enhance them visually and acoustically.
Organizer
Victory Hall Opera
Link to Competition
Link to Registration form
Prizes
The three finalists, announced at the Tom Tom Summit & Festival on April 11, 2019, will each receive a $1000 stipend to continue development of their design in cooperation with VHO & VMDO.The Winning Entry will receive a $2500 cash prize, and the winning design will be constructed by VHO and used in their productions, beginning in Fall 2019.The Winner will receive promotion and publicity in regional and industry media, and will receive named recognition whenever the set is used in performance by VHO, or if the design is licensed for other theater/opera co.’s or schools’ use.
Type of Competition
Open to the public/Minimum requirements (Open to anyone that complies with the requirements), More than one stage (Winners selected after at least two selection phases)
Who can Participate
Open to all designers, whether architects, artists, set- or industrial designers, and students of these fields. Entrants may be of any age or nationality, and may enter as individuals or teams.Entrants may submit multiple entries under separate registrations (one design submission per registered entry).
Dates and Time Frame
Registration Closes
Deadline to Submit Project March 31, 2019
Winners announcement Date April 11, 2019
Languages
English
Location of Competition
Charlottesville, VA
Location of Project (if developed)
Charlottesville, VA, USA
Additional Information
Banner, Poster, Brochure or Triptic of Competition
