The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), a non-profit representing compelling places and experiences worldwide, has named the 2023 TEA Masters of Their Craft. This prestigious honour recognises individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the themed entertainment industry.
The award recognises themed entertainment professionals from a wide range of specialisms, with creators, managers, designers, writers, producers, engineers, and craftspeople among the esteemed list of Masters. The programme celebrates extraordinary individuals whose abilities uphold the industry’s rigorous standards, and who have used those abilities to further their field of expertise.
Each Master has been honing their skills for at least 20 years, frequently working on an international level and on numerous significant and/or signature projects which have each upheld their excellent quality of work.
TEA Masters represent a vast range of fields and come from nations across the globe, and this year sees the first Master from the Australian continent.
The 2023 masters are:
- Chris Conte, audiovisual technology design and integration
- Robin Hall, theme park master planning
- Björn Heerwagen, show design and production
- Jodi McLaughlin, executive producer
- Karen Trott, scenic artist
Rigorous selection process
The Masters are often the unsung heroes of the industry and work to develop narratives, rides, attractions, events, and places which capture imaginations, delight and educate visitors around the world. They enthusiastically impart their knowledge to newcomers to the industry and are committed mentors to their colleagues.
The existing Masters operate as a selection committee to choose each new slate of TEA Masters. Nominations are submitted to the selection committee from professionals all across the world. The entire process takes three months, during which time each nominee is examined in detail and a final slate is chosen.
Each nomination is thoroughly reviewed by the selection committee after confirming that all submission conditions have been accomplished. Approximately 150 nominations were assessed by the committee this year. The voting selection procedure is meticulous and rigorous, and there is lively discussion. The entire process takes three months, during which time each nominee is examined in detail and a final slate is chosen.
An official celebration will take place at SATE North America.
The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) recently announced the schedule for the Storytelling, Architecture, Technology, and Experience (SATE) conference for North America, which will take place in Kansas City, Missouri, from 12 – 14 October 2023.
