OISTAT (The International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians) is the first international cultural organization that is based in Taiwan. Culture Minister Hung Meng-chi and OISTAT President Louis Janssen signed a cooperative agreement in Nanmen Park of the National Taiwan Museum on July 31 to extend the cooperation. The OISTAT headquarters will thus remain in Taiwan until 2020.
OISTAT relocated its secretariat to Taiwan in 2006 on the invitation of the Council for Cultural Affairs, the predecessor of the Ministry of Culture, and the OISTAT secretariat was upgraded to headquarters during the past 10 years. The diverse Taiwanese theater is given more visibility on the international stage through the OISTAT global network, and many local theater professionals have received international awards. Having a theater-friendly environment made Taiwan the ideal candidate for hosting World Stage Design in 2017.