The International Organization of Scenographers, Architects and Technicians (OISTAT) maintains a website for their Costume Working Group.

The website shows a number of international resources available to USITT members who have an interest. The first menu item includes a link to the OISTAT Scenography Commission site and the OISTAT organizational web site, so that all may stay abreast of the latest plans for OISTAT functions and meetings.

The second menu item is the "Addresses for working group members," from forty-five countries around the world. Most have email addresses now, and they are all committed to be a resource to others who wish information. Each one has an interest in cultural exchange and can read English.

The next menu item is, "Minutes and images from recent events." This includes the Prague Quadrennial 2003 winners for Costume Design, the Costume Found Object Workshop in Prague, and the Parade of Dramatic Characters that were central to this last Prague Quadrennial.

The fifth menu item is a small costume designer database and includes some pioneering work in computer generated costume design as well as the work of three Cuban Carnival costume designers: Jose de Jesus Limia Castillo, more commonly called "Pepin," from Santiago de Cuba; Maria Luisa Bernal, from Camaguey and now residing in Santiago de Cuba; and "Chucko" from Havana.

The sixth option is a "Costume technology database," that is in need of updating, but can be of some use if looking for artisans in New York City. Following that, the "Research database" has links to many well-known sites and several lesser-known museum sites, but all of great interest to Costume Designers.

The last two menu items lead the viewer to information on "Education and training" in the field of Costume Design and to other related "Links."

Happy browsing!

Laura Crow
University of Connecticut, Dept of Dramatic Arts
U-1127, 802 Bolton Road
Storrs, CT 06269-1127
O:860-486-1625
Email: laura.crow@uconn.edu