The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space (formerly the The Prague Quadrennial International Exhibition of Scenography and Theatre Architecture) is the only exhibition of its kind and magnitude in the world, exhibiting what curators believe is the best of contemporary scenography and theatre architecture created over the last four years in their countries and regions of origins. The exhibitions, together with its series of accompanying activities, creates a unique platform for seminars, workshops, meetings of theatre practitioners from all over the world and provides an opportunity for observing and comparing the development of world theatre - especially its design components.

During the Bienal de São Paolo (Biennale of Visual Art) in 1959, a special exhibit designed by František Tröster, illustrated the development of Czech and Slovak stage design and theatre architecture during the period from 1914-1959. The result of the exhibition was a gold medal to Czechoslovakia. Continued Czech success during the next three Biennales led to an offer for Prague to host an international exhibition of stage design in Europe once every four years. Since its premiere in 1967, the international exhibition has been held regularly every four years, and has come to be known as the Prague Quadrennial.

Over the course of its thirteen editions, the PQ has become a world-renowned cultural event creating an opportunity of exhibiting various theatre-graphic design concepts and illustrating the recent trends in world theatre. Such international stage designers and artists who have exhibited their works include Tadeusz Kantor, David Borovsky, Ralph Koltai, Luciano Damiani, Ming Cho Lee and Achim Freyer, just to name a few. Salvador Dali and other personalities participated in past editions of the PQ.

The PQ has received the support of the President of the Czech Republic and the UNESCO. It is still supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic while being organised and realised by the Theatre Institute in Prague.

The idea of founding the Prague Quadrennial, a competitive exhibition specialising in performance design, theatre technology and architecture, arose from the success enjoyed by Czech and Slovakian scenographers at São Paolo Biennial exhibition of applied art, where, starting with František Tröster in 1959, they repeatedly won gold medals as artists creating for stage.


PQ67
The first PQ was held in 1967 in the Brussels pavilion of Julius Fučík Park of Culture and Leisure. The founding of the Prague Quadrennial recognised staged design as a specific type of art, deserving of the attention of the public and professionals. The exhibition consisted of three competitive sections: scenography and costume design (divided into an international section and another section for Czechoslovakian scenographers), thematic sections and a section of theatre architecture. The exhibition also included a non-competitive section for Czechoslovak laureates from the São Paolo Biennial. Exhibitions focused on set and costume design, with an emphasis on the visual rendering. Thematic section: stagings of operas by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Selected accompanying events: start of tradition of so-called national days as an opportunity to give a more detailed presentation of countries' exhibitions and theatre culture, and their representatives, through special events; guided tours of theatre workshops and visits to DAMU; symposium on the theme of cooperation between directors and stage designers and the influence of modern drama on the development of the theatre stage and building. The PQ was attended by 19 countries (Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Canada, Mexico, the GDR, the Netherlands, the FRG, Poland, Austria, the USSR, Switzerland, Tunisia). Golden Triga: France.

PQ71
The second PQ was held in 1971, again in the Brussels pavilion of the Julius Fučík Park of Culture and Leisure. Thematic section: stagings of dramas by William Shakespeare. Photographic documentation starts to replace renderings; first indications of the change in function of performance design, rise of so-called action of stage design. Selected accompanying events: exhibition of theatre costumes, visit to Baroque theatre in Český Krumlov; 2nd OISTT congress and two symposia (theme: 'Theatre in Multipurpose Auditoria and New Elements in Theatre Expression and Stage Design'). The PQ71 was attended by 25 countries (Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Canada, Cuba, Hungary, Mexico, the GDR, the Netherlands, Norway, the FRG, Poland, Austria, the USSR, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Great Britain, Venezuela). Golden Triga: German Democratic Republic.

PQ75
The third PQ was held in late 1975 and early 1976. Thematic section: Schools of stage design (works by students of stage design schools). Stage design proclaims the abandonment of its representative character and action stage design comes to the fore, placing emphasis on the presence of the actor, teamwork between theatre makers, improvisation and the authenticity of everyday objects. Seeking for new spaces for theatre. Selected accompanying events: 4th OISTT congress and international symposium on stage design education; screening of documentaries, recordings of productions and display of scenographers' medallions in the cinema of the Brussels pavilion. The number of participating countries increased to 28 (Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Canada, Cuba, Hungary, Mexico, the GDR, the Netherlands, Norway, the FRG, Poland, Austria, Romania, the USSR, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, the USA, Great Britain). Golden Triga: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

PQ79
The fourth PQ was organised in 1979, again in the Brussels pavilion of the Julius Fučík Park of Culture and Leisure. Thematic section: Puppets (the PQ was held during the International Year of the Child). Following the success of the thematic section in the previous edition, the exhibition of schools of stage design became a permanent, non-competitive section of the exhibition.  First emphasis on playfulness as a means of provoking the viewer into activity and involving them in the performance. Selected accompanying events: OISTT congress and international symposium on the impact of contemporary visual arts on stage design; exhibition of Czechoslovakian puppet theatres; non-competitive Swiss exhibition of the works of reformer Adolphe Appia; first exhibition for amateur stage designers; 'Masks and Mobile Structures' exhibition from Italy. The PQ79 was attended by 23 countries (Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Canada, Hungary, the GDR, the Netherlands, Norway, the FRG, Poland, Austria, Romania, the USSR, Switzerland, the USA, Great Britain). Golden Triga: Great Britain.

PQ83
The fifth PQ was held in 1983 in both wings of the Congress Palace at the Julius Fučík Park of Culture and Leisure. Thematic section: Stage design for operatic works by Czechoslovak authors (Czech and Slovak opera). Scenography is becoming an independent statement and exhibitions start to resemble scenographic installations. Audiovisual recordings come to the fore as an objective document of productions. Selected accompanying events: OISTAT congress and international symposium entitled Theatre today and tomorrow; non-competitive Italian exhibition of reconstructions of historic theatre buildings; exhibition of photography by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz; excursion to 'Puppet and Theatre' exhibition in Liberec. The PQ83 was attended by 28 countries (Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, the Philippines, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Canada, Cuba, Hungary, the GDR, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the FRG, Poland, Austria, Romania, the USSR, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA, Great Britain, Vietnam). Golden Triga: Federal Republic of Germany.

PQ87
The sixth PQ was held in 1987 in both wings of the Congress Palace at the Julius Fučík Park of Culture and Leisure. Thematic section: production of plays by Anton Chekhov. Exhibitions and installations show an effort to stimulate the viewers and challenge them to participate directly in performative events. Selected accompanying events: exhibitions of live performances of studio theatres in the Parallel Quadrennial; OISTAT congress and international symposium entitled 'Are Electronics and Computer Technology an Aid of Hindrance in Artistic Work in the Theatre?'; ASSITEJ seminar on theatre scenography; Young Czech Scenography exhibition; American Theatre of Today exhibition, including participation of Actors Theatre of Louisville. The PQ87 was attended by 23 countries (Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Kampuchea, Canada, Cuba, Laos, Hungary, the GDR, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the FRG, Poland, Austria, Romania, the USSR, Spain-Catalonia, Sweden, the USA, Great Britain, Vietnam). Golden Triga: United States of America.

PQ91
The seventh PQ was held in 1991 in the Palace of Culture. Thematic section: The Operas of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. For the first time Czechoslovakia does not put on a separate exhibition, but presents amongst other exhibitions. Return of the documentary methods of exhibiting - scenic designs, models and photography. Selected accompanying events: OISTAT congress and international symposium entitled 'Mozart in Contemporary Theatre'; exhibition of life's work of leading Czech stage designer František Tröster; excursion to Slovakia to visit theatres in Bratislava, Trnava and Nitra; seminar and panel discussion on issues surrounding the teaching of stage design; exhibition on major Polish stage designer Andrzej Majewski. The PQ91 was attended by 36 countries (Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, Israel, Japan, Yugoslavia, Canada, Korea, Cyprus, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Austria, Romania, Greece, the USSR, Syria, Spain-Catalonia, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA, Great Britain). Golden Triga: Great Britain.

PQ95
The eighth PQ was held in 1995 in the Industrial Palace of Prague's Exhibition Grounds (Výstavišti). Due to spatial restrictions, the traditional division between scenography sections, thematic and architectural sections is replaced by a single national section on the theme of 'Seeking a Production Space'. New competition section devoted to publications on scenography and theatre architecture. Selected accompanying events: OISTAT congress and international symposium entitled 'Three Decades of the PQ and OISTAT'; representative exhibition on the works of Josef Svoboda. The PQ95 was attended by a total of 41 countries (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, China, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Hong Kong, Chile, Croatia, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Canada, Korea, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Mexico, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Austria, Romania, Russia, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Syria, Spain-Catalonia, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA, Great Britain). Golden Triga: Brazil.

PQ99
The ninth PQ was held in 1999 in the Industrial Palace of Prague's Exhibition Grounds (Výstavišti). A new concept for the PQ as a platform of live art and meeting space with installations, workshops and seminars. Return to the model with three competitive section (section of performance design and theatre costume, thematic section, section of theatre architecture), supplemented with a student section. Thematic section: Homage to Scenography. Selected accompanying events: Lightlab; Le Campement festival as a meeting-place at which five theatre groups presented their shows; exhibition of the works of Ralph Koltai; discussion entitled 'Three Visions of Scenography: Ralph Koltai, Josef Svoboda and Ming Cho Lee' with Pamela Howard. Beginning of PQ for children. The PQ99 was attended by a total of 45 countries (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, China, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Hong Kong-China, Chile, Croatia, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Africa, Yugoslavia, Canada, Korea, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Mexico, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugual, Austria, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, the USA, Syria, Spain-Catalonia, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain). Golden Triga: Czech Republic.

PQ2003
The tenth PQ was held in 2003 in the Industrial Palace of Prague's Exhibition Grounds (Výstavišti). Motto: 'The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Theatre'. Growing emphasis on the PQ as not only an exhibition, but a meeting-place. PQ includes the PQ Heart: a Cardiac arrest to the Conventional international project and exhibition/performance, which replaces the thematic section. The non-competitive section for schools is enriched with the OISTAT Scenofest project. The National Exhibition section includes the so-called Crowds of Characters (costumes placed within a space). Selected accompanying events: retrospectives of the works of Tadeusz Kantor, Dionysos Fotopoulos and Otakar Schindler; exhibition of costumes from the Japanese Nó theatre; Czech Theatre Architecture exhibition. The PQ2003 was attended by a total of 50 countries (Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong-China, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pacific Islands, Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of South Africa, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, the USA). Golden Triga: Great Britain.
Through a range of accompanying events and partner projects with other organisations, the PQ2003 also spread to other locations throughout Prague. PQ2003 had grown through these events into a larger event, beginning in April and ending in August 2003. The motto chosen for this tenth PQ was a paraphrase of the title of John Amos Comenius' Labyrinth of the World and Paradise of the Heart, replacing "heart" with "theatre". The conception of this tenth anniversary PQ contained a number of innovations in both form and content in order to convey the changes in theatre practice over the last five years, the rise of new technologies and the impact of cultural influences, thus providing a comprehensive insight: into contemporary theatre. PQ2003 was to be not merely an exhibition of the world's theatre cultures, but a place for meeting, communicating and networking, as well as the search for and creation of new contexts. The two regular competitive sections were kept, one for National Exhibits and the Theatre Architecture Section, as well as the Schools of Stage Design Section, which was enriched by the inclusion of a new OISTAT educational project, Scenofest. As newly conceived, PQ has become more accessible to the general visitor, who, from being a mere theatre-goer might become an active participant. The core site of this interaction was an entirely new project, The Heart of PQ, which replaced the traditional thematic section. Out of a desire to improve the dynamic and interaction, the manner of exhibiting the displays was also revised. The exhibition itself was enriched by many accompanying activities - exhibitions, seminars, workshops, lectures, performances or the programme for children.

PQ2007
The eleventh PQ was held in 2007 in the Industrial Palace of Prague's Exhibition Grounds (Výstavišti). National curators chose their own themes. This freedom given to curators in intended to present performance design in its diverse forms and highlight its ability to reflect the world around it. Continued emphasis on the PQ as a meeting-place, presenting performance design as a living art. The PQ now includes performances on the streets in the centre of Prague and other projects lying on the boundary between theatre and visual arts. Live performances and events form part of not only the accompanying program, but also competitive exhibitions. The Student Section - Scenofest, co-produced by the PQ and OISTAT, becomes one of the three main sections. Wide-ranging live program, consisting of c. 500 events (performances, installations, fashion shows, workshops, critical seminars). For the first time the PQ has a uniform visual concept (graphics, web presence, architecture, video, prizes). The PQ2007 was attended by 51 countries. Golden Triga: Russia.

PQ2011
The twelfth PQ was held in 2015 in the Veletržní Palace. Motto: 'at the still point of the turning world'. Title in English changed to Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space. Emphasis on exploring points of intersection between performance and visual art; performance design conceived as a broader cultural activity and complex performative environment that exceeds the boundaries of the theatre building. Exhibiting is understood as the creation of new contexts for performances, of which the viewer is an integral part. New competition section entitled Extreme Costume. Non-competitive projects include Intersections: Intimacy and Spectacle, the Light and Sound Project, Scenofest and a wide-ranging accompanying program including dozens of workshops, performances, seminars and artist presentations and discussions. The PQ2011 was attended by 62 countries (Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mongolia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of South Africa, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, and Venezuela). Golden Triga: Brazil.

PQ2015
The thirteenth PQ was held in 2015, and for the first time, took place in and around the historical centre of Prague in 48 venues, showing that scenography is increasingly moving from the stage to become a part of everyday life and urban public space, with new ideas and impulses. PQ2015 was the culmination of multi-annual European project SharedSpace: Music Weather Politics. Competitive sections included the Sections of Countries and Regions and the Student Section with 120 exhibitions. SharedSpace presented a non-competitive Performing Space Section as well as three experimental exhibitions: Tribes, Objects and Makers. A Sound Kitchen platform as well as the Best Scenography Publication Award were two new sections on the PQ. SpaceLab, the educational component of PQ and SharedSpace, created an opportunity for thousands of students to join workshops, attend the Zlomvaz Festival as well as discussions, concerts, screenings, site-specific projects, and registering over 620 events during 11 days. The PQ2015 was attended by 78 countries and regions (Antarctica, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, China, Denmark, Egypt, Ecuador, Estonia, The Philippines, Finland, France, Georgia, Hong Kong SAR, Chile, Croatia, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Japan, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Costa Rica, Canada, Catalonia, Kazakhstan, Kubinia, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Macau SAR, Hungary, Macedonia/FYROM, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Quebec, Austria, Romania, Russia, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Arab Countries Collective Exposition, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, United Kingdom, Venezuela). Golden Triga: Estonia.