Exhibition Update and What’s Coming

We are thrilled to share an update on the SBTD National Exhibition, design | stage, following our announcement to SBTD members on Monday, 9th February, see the Recording Link at the end of this article, that shares an introduction to the curatorial team, what design | stage will include; how to take part and what to expect from the submission process; practical ideas for exhibiting your work; and sharing the Exhibitors Call-Out will be released on Friday 1st May 2026. Exciting progress is underway as funding applications are being drafted, and our team continues to shape the exhibition, publication, programme and legacy initiatives.

Team Updates

• Editors Jiahui Cai and Miren Candina are busy preparing content for SBTD, and we warmly welcome other members to contribute articles sharing their perspectives on the making-exhibition process. I met with the Publications and Editorial Lead Susannah Henry at the Barbican to discuss the structure of our published catalogue and we shared ideas on the its development.
• The Programme of Events have renamed their group to Making Unmaking Remaking, and the Lead Xristina Penna has been meeting participants to hear the variety of work to be shared across the country and within the space itself. There is a lot of exciting work being planned, from exploring AI in Theatre Design, a workshop exploring VR and digital design as a craft, Disability and Costume to activities for schools, to name afew. Even the V&A has expressed an interest to chair a panel Talk with Designers.
• Lexa Barbulescu has joined in a Curatorial Support role to assist with planning.
• Stella-Jane Odoemelam, who has been creating a trailer and short ad for distribution to funders and supporters.
• Maelisa Singer is providing Accessibility and Inclusivity Support to ensure the exhibition is as open and inclusive as possible.
• Nicola Hewitt-George has stepped into Social Media, helping generate a buzz leading up to the exhibition call on Friday, 1st May, and then the opening in early 2027.
• The Sustainability Team, Paul Burgess, Kira Curtis, and Valentina Miranda, are exploring the afterlife of the exhibition and ways of preserving materials, and will be considering having a display area

Legacy & Heritage

Work has also begun on the Legacy Project, marking 50 years of SBTD. Conversations with Terry Brown, Martin Morley, David Cockayne and Stephen Pyle have been inspiring, demonstrating how this strand alone could become an exhibition in its own right. Further Designers are being invited to be part of the Legacy strand of the exhibition, ensuring a broad and representative range of voices and practices are included.

Collaborations & Partnerships

Discussions with Peter Dean and the Production Managers Forum (PMF) have begun in bringing their annual in-person, whole-day event to Coventry have been exciting, and I look forward to seeing how this develops. We are also welcoming the Association for Lighting Production and Design (ALPD) and the Association for Sound Design and Production (ASDP).

Our Home at Coventry University

We have just received news and confirmation from the Senior Leaders and Governors at Coventry University that the exhibition will be hosted in the Delia Derbyshire Building in early 2027 (dates to be confirmed). While it would have been wonderful to have been at the City Centre Cultural Gateway, it will not be ready for any of its tenants, including the Arts Council, British Council, and Coventry Transport Museum, by Q1 2027. Knowing this early helps our planning enormously. We are very grateful to those at Coventry University and the College of Arts and Society for their support and enthusiasm, and we will soon form a joint Working Group to strengthen collaboration between our organisations.

The Delia Derbyshire Building offers fantastic spaces: two foyers, a dedicated gallery, a boardroom-turned-gallery, lecture theatres, art studios, immersive/VR/XR labs, and a carpentry workshop for get-in. With two street entrances, a 15min walk to Coventry Station, a large car park on its doorstep, and the venue sits opposite Coventry Cathedral, making this the ideal venue for our exhibition.

Next Steps & Join the Team

As we look ahead, the coming month will be busy with funding applications, distributing Contribution Proposals, developing the various exhibition strands, refining the publication structure, beginning press outreach now that our venue is confirmed, and preparing for the Exhibitors Call-Out on Friday 1st May. 

Onwards and upwards, design | stage is shaping up to be a remarkable celebration of stage design with a wonderful, creative dedicated team behind it. Should you wish to join the design | stage Team, please drop me a line at exhibitions@sbtd.org.uk

Important Dates

Please save the following important dates in your calendars:

• Exhibitors Call-Out – Friday 1st May 2026
• Deadline to Register for Participation in design | stage and the Catalogue – Sunday 12th July 2026, by midnight

With the foundations now laid, the next phase is about momentum, collaboration and making something truly special together.

Watch the SBTD Members Event - Step Inside design | stage

Passcode: *WXnW=^7