PERFORMANCE DESIGNERS: A LOOK AT ECOSCENOGRAPHY AND ECO-CREATIVITY

• Grant number: 24/16084-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: March 16, 2025
• End date: March 15, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Arts - Theatre
• Principal Investigator: Fausto Roberto Poço Viana
• Grantee: Paula Adriano Martins
• Supervisor: Tanja Beer
• Host Institution: Escola de Comunicações e Artes (ECA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Griffith University, Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/11066-4 - Eco Scenography - the modus operandi of a possible theatrical future: sustainable artistic practices in the theatrical scene of the city of São Paulo, BP.DR

Abstract

This proposal for a research internship abroad is part of a doctoral study under development in Brazil, in which the aim is to identify and analyze ecologically sustainable practices in theatrical scenographic design and production in the city of São Paulo. The ongoing research examines how local companies adopt creative and productive strategies that minimize environmental impact, contributing to a more conscious and responsible theater. The research is based on core concepts such as "ecoscenography", a term coined by specialist Dr. Tanja Beer (2021), and "eco-creativity", which connects ecological principles to innovative artistic practices. The proposed twelve-month internship will occur at the Performance + Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL) of the Creative Arts Research Institute (CARI) at Griffith University in Australia, under the supervision of Dr. Tanja Beer, internationally recognized for her contributions to the field. The opportunity will provide an immersive environment of intellectual exchange, involving participation in CARI's postgraduate program and the Australian Research Council (ARC) funded project, "Culture for Climate: Harnessing Eco-Creativity to Transition Australia's Performing Arts to Environmental Sustainability" (2024-2027). The experience allows engagement and dialog with leading researchers in sustainability and the performing arts, strengthening critical analysis and broadening the theoretical framework of ongoing research. An important part of the internship will involve conducting interviews to explore how performance designers in Australia and beyond integrate sustainability into their creative practices. This stage will enrich the research in Brazil, enabling the creation of new perspectives on the use of sustainable materials and the innovation of artistic processes. Through contact with supervisor Dr. Tanja Beer, it is expected to deepen the understanding and application of the eco-creative perspective, allowing ecological philosophy and methodologies to be incorporated and adopted in São Paulo's theater scene. This internship represents an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen the theoretical and practical bases of the research, contributing to the formation of a theater that combines creativity and environmental responsibility, positively impacting both the artistic and societal spheres. The results of this international experience aim to position ecoscenography as an innovative and indispensable reference in the Brazilian theater scene.