Dear Members of the TC,
Before we start a new year, I’d like to round up some projects we are working on.
We’re still discussing the program of the TC meeting in Berlin in June.
Part of it will be a joint meeting with the technical director group of Opera Europa.
TC members who are willing to give a lecture or workshop at the Showtech, please let me know as soon as possible, as it can help us getting closer to a full invitation.
The Shanghai Academy, and China OISTAT Centre were interested to host the TC in 2010.
They are checking the guidelines to host OISTAT meetings right now, and we will be very honored if they accept to invite us.
One of the allied associations of the KTAA, OISTAT-Korea, the Korea Stage Technology Safety Association, is willing to host a safety workshop concurrently with the WSD2009.
The TC is happy to help set up some events like a workshop or a seminar and it was suggested the focus could be on fire regulation standards for set materials and fabrics.
Most of you will remember the CEN workshop WS25 “Lifting and Load-bearing Equipment for Stages and other Production Areas within the Entertainment Industry”
This workshop was started in 2006 by Olle Sönderberg, and the TC was happy to offer its expertise.
The goal was to find a consensus on the different industry standards that exist in Europe, and that could be the base for a European norm.
This work is finished, and the publication is planned for March 2009.
In view of the questions about fire regulations I’m inquiring about the possibility to do the same for Flame Retardant Standards.
I’m sure the existing of a European agreement will help both theatre technicians and manufactures in countries that have no local standards at the moment, and this as well in Europe as in the whole world.
TC members that are interested can join me on this.
Alex Brkic, our Serbian member has met with Scott Henkels from Ohio.
We hope this will be new step in developing the SPP, the Support to Practitioners Project’.
The Theatre Invention Project is dormant, waiting to be revived.
If we want something concrete to show on the WSD2009 or the PQ2011, we need some volunteers to start taking some action.
I wish you all a merry Christmas, and a happy and healthy New Year.
Ivo Kersmaekers,
Chair Technology Commission
