For the first time, a Sustainability Prize will be awarded at the RING AWARD.
Endowed with EUR 2,500, sponsored by art + event | Theaterservice Graz, it will be awarded by a jury of six experts from the fields of set and costume design and sustainability.
The winning team will be announced with nominations of the semifinal teams on October 10, 2024.
Together with the submission of the production concept for the competition opera “L’Orfeo” by Claudio Monteverdi for the first stage of the RING AWARD 25, each team is also asked to submit a Sustainability Concept. We are looking for innovative concepts that promote environmentally friendly productions, social inclusion and economic sustainability.
Josef Loibner – Head of Decoration Workshop, art + event | Theaterservice Graz
Josef Loibner has been working in the field of professional stage design since 1992. In 1998 he passed the examination for “Bühnenmeister” (master craftman for stage) , took over the management of the design office in 2004 and finally became Head of the Decoration Workshops at art + event | Theaterservice Graz in 2007. In this position, he was and is in charge of the realisation of stage sets for a large number of national and international productions. In the balancing act between economic challenges and artistic demands, he has also been concerned with the issue of sustainability in the cultural sector and beyond for many years. Josef Loibner has been involved with the RING AWARD from the very beginning.
Claudia Goll – Head of Costume Department and Fundus, art + event | Theaterservice Graz
Claudia Goll began her career in 1986 with various assistantships and her own artistic work in German-speaking countries. From 1994 to 2008 she was Costume Director at Vereinigte Bühnen Graz, responsible for opera, theatre and youth theatre. From 1996 to 2023 she taught at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz in the areas of free design work in costume, history of costume and textile studies for costume. Since 2008, she has been Head of the Costume Department and the Fundus of art+ event, Theaterservice Graz.
Sabina Pinsker – Head of the Institute 11 Set Design, University of Music and Performing Arts Graz
Sabina Pinsker studied Set Design at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz and is Head of the Institute 11 Set Design at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.
In addition to her artistic work as a set and costume designer for theatre and TV productions, Sabina Pinsker has supported the RING AWARD from the very beginning as a member of the organisational team and as an interface to the Institute of Set Design.
Christian Gschier – Senior Artist, Institute 11 Set Design, University of Music and Performing Arts Graz
The artist and cultural manager studied Set Design at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, obtained an Executive Master in Arts Administration at the University of Zurich. He works as a Senior Artist at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz and as a costume and set designer for TV and film productions.
As an arts and culture manager, he has supported the RING AWARD for over 25 years. Christian Gschier was a participant and finalist in the first RING AWARD in 1997 and has been a member of the organising team ever since.
Nina Pauritsch – Managing Director of ecoversum – network for sustainable business
Nina Pauritsch is a management consultant with extensive expertise in the field of sustainability. She works as an auditor and consultant for the Austrian Ecolabel and is also a licence holder for Green Meetings and Green Events. In addition, she advises the ÖKOPROFIT programme in Graz, where she supports companies in implementing environmentally friendly practices. Her academic background is in geography and environmental systems science as well as sustainable urban and regional development.
Ingo Reinhardt – Sustainability Officer at Bühnen Graz
Ingo Reinhardt began his professional career at Bühnen Graz in 2010 in the Costume Design Department. In 2022, he was entrusted with the management of the sustainability team at Theaterservice Graz. He is responsible for Green Events as part of the organisational teams for the ‘Opernredoute’ and ‘Klanglicht’ events.
His motto: “Avoid waste!” has accompanied him for a long time, which is why he has completed extensive training in this area and can draw on a broad range of expertise. Since 2023, Ingo Reinhardt has been a certified Zero Waste Coach and has been appointed Sustainability Officer at Bühnen Graz.
We are excited to see which team can convince the Sustainability Jury with their concept for energy-saving technologies, resource-saving set and costume design and inclusive programmes.
