Experience the largest international exhibition for contemporary performance design and engage with the most innovative scenographic work of our current moment.
Hosted in Prague, Czechia, the Prague Quadrennial features exhibitions from over 80 different countries, as well as lectures, performances, workshops, and public spectacles. The 16th edition of the Quadrennial will explore the themes of absences and silences – not as voids, but as spaces for potential.
Bridging fine art, theatre, and architecture, this field school will introduce students from a diverse range of disciplines to contemporary scenographic discourse while expanding global perspectives on creative practice.
This unique international experience will consist of a five-day seminar followed by attendance at the Prague Quadrennial. Students will be provided with background reading and invited to research contemporary artists presenting at the Quadrennial. Following the trip to Prague, field school participants will share their reflections and discoveries at a public presentation.
Learning objectives
This course examines the changing field of scenography and how recent innovations are influencing how we experience and create art, space, and community. Course objectives include:
- Provide a critical understanding of contemporary scenographic theory and practice
- Offer immersive experiences in international performance design
- Outline the role of the scenographer in its many forms and contexts
- Provide opportunities to meet working professionals and scholars
- Expand our imagining of what performance design can be
- Foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for live art outside of Sackville and a strictly Canadian contex
Field school details — May 31-June 17, 2027
Dates:
- Class meetings: May 31-June 4, 2027
- Trip to Prague: June 9-17, 2027
Location: Prague, Czechia
# of students: Limited to 12 students
Instructor: Ian McFarlane, Resident Designer
Academic credit: DRAM/FINA 2991 (3 credits)
Participation fee: All fees in CAD. Fees are approximate.
- $3,400 includes in-country costs such as accommodations, food, transportation, exhibition passes, etc.
- $1,300 round trip flight (approx.) from Halifax to Prague
- $1,080 tuition for one 3-credit course
Funding for travel is available through travel grants, bursaries, and awards.
Course details and timeline
Synopsis of course content
SEMINAR PARTICIPATION (15%):
Student will analyse texts through group discussions at our pre-trip seminar. Preparation is vital for these activities. Please read the assigned texts in advance. Criteria for active participation in seminars include: constructive questions and criticisms, sharing related experiences or opinions, offering related inspirations or references, supporting classmates in the processing of material, and offering your attention.
Required reading includes:
- (excerpts from) Scenography Expanded: An Introduction to Contemporary Performance Design, edited by Josline McKinney and Scott Palmer, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017
- (excerpts from) Relational Aesthetics, by Nicolas Bourriaud
PRELIMINARY RESEARCH PRESENTATION (15%):
Prior to departure, each student will study the lineup of presenters at the Prague Quadrennial and present a concise 5-minute presentation on the work of one artist or scholar. Presentations should give an overview of the presenter's medium, their context, as well as their featured work. These presentations will serve the group as we prepare to curate our experiences of the Prague Quadrennial.
SKETCHBOOK JOURNAL (10%):
Throughout the field school, each student will keep a sketchbook to document their experiences. Documentation can include drawings, writing, collages, or other visual processing of the exhibitions and workshops. This should be a fluid tool that supports your processing of the field study. Try to contribute to it regularly. Sketchbooks will be submitted at the end of the course to be reviewed by the instructor. You are welcome to add any notes to help describe the content of your sketchbook.
EXHIBITION REPORTS (30%):
This field school promotes immersive experiences at the Prague Quadriennal and active engagement with the exhibitions, workshops, and lectures. The expectation is for students to self-direct their own experience. To help structure your curation, each student will be required to attend the following features of the quadrennial and write a 1,000-word report on each:
- One report on an exhibition (Exhibition of Countries and Regions, Student Exhibition, or PQ Performance Space)
- One report on a workshop (participation in PQ Studio)
Exhibition reports will be due after the Quadrennial is complete and can be used to inform your final presentation.
FINAL PRESENTATION (30%):
On our return from Prague, each student will be invited to share their experience with their peers at a public presentation in the Motyer-Fancy Theatre.
Presentations should cover:
- key exhibitions and how they affected you
- workshops you attended and the skills you learned from them
- key concepts or theories you were introduced to through the lecture series
- any personal experiences you feel are relevant.
Each presentation should be no longer than 10 minutes. You will be provided with a projector and an audio system. Any further technical requirements should be requested at least two days in advance.
Course timeline
MONDAY, MAY 31
- Group seminar: course overview, what is scenography?
- Location: PCCA 103
- Prep: Read Ch. 1 of Scenography Expanded
TUESDAY, JUNE 1
- Group work: researching featured artists
- Location: PCCA 103
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2
- Group seminar: relational aesthetics
- Location: PCCA 103
- Prep: Read Relational Forms from Relational Aesthetics
THURSDAY, JUNE 3
- Research presentations
- PCCA 103
FRIDAY, JUNE 4
- Group seminar: international travel
- Location: PCCA 103
MONDAY, JUNE 7
- Fly from Halifax to Prague
JUNE 8-17
- Attend the Prague Quadrennial
- Location: Prague Exhibition Ground, Prague 7
MONDAY, JUNE 14
- Visit Puppets in Prague Studio
FRIDAY, JUNE 18
- Fly Prague to Halifax
MONDAY, JUNE 21
- Group debrief: PQ and personal practice
- Location: PCCA
FRIDAY, SEPT. 17
- Public presentations
- Location: Motyer-Fancy Theatre, PCCA
Application process
Student must have a valid passport to apply. Applications will be reviewed in early January followed by in-person interviews with the instructor. A final selection of applicants will be announced by Jan. 31.
Apply for the Prague Quadrennial Field School
Deadline to apply: Dec. 15, 2026
Questions? Email Ian McFarlane, imcfarlane@mta.ca.