Dana Pinto

Raised by immigrant working class parents in south London I pursued a childhood interest in spatial design. Ever since graduating from the Theatre Design degree at Wimbledon School of Art and MA Scenography at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, I have worked as a Set and Costume Designer for several years designing productions ranging from community groups to musicals, dance and opera. As a qualified Lecturer, I went on to Lecturing on Scenic Construction and Scenic Painting at Lewisham College then leading on Courses and Curriculum Team Leading at Bromley College of Further and Higher Education. From here, I was then invited to write published Qualifications based on the Production Arts that are currently being taught nationally today.

These experiences led me to create ‘School of Scenography’, an online school dedicated to empower those who are considering to formally studying Scenography as well as supporting those leaving their degrees and entering the industry for the first time. While running and developing ‘School of Scenography’, I am also the Managing Editor UK for ‘The Scenographer’ publishing trade magazines and books, on the Board of Directors for Second Wave Performing Arts a charity that received The Queen’s Award in 2020 and then an additional award by Queen Elizabeth II for our work during the pandemic for performing arts young people across London.

As a member of SBTD, you have equal representation while being part of a collective power. SBTD’s long-term objectives are always in the interest of its members given its history, reputation, structure and legacy. Joining the SBTD Committee is where I am able to share my design, lecturing and publishing experiences alongside others who also uphold an active interest in the pursuit the development of new Designers and support for those Designers in mid to full design careers with a deep long-term commitment.