The Award of Excellence in Costume Design/Technology recognizes an individual who has demonstrated excellence in creative, innovative, and imaginative approaches to costume design/technology in the performing arts. The award will be given annually and presented to professional costume designers/technicians in the even years and to early career and/or a student pursuing a graduate degree in the odd years.
Criteria for Professional Costume Designers/Technologists:The CSA Award of Excellence in Costume Design/Technology recognizes a single individual’s body of work. The nominee must have been working as a professional designer/technician for a minimum of ten years.
Criteria for Early Career Professionals and Students Pursuing a Degree in Costume Design/Technology:The CSA Award of Excellence in Costume Design/Technology recognizes a single individual’s body of work. The nominee must be in the first three to five years of a career or pursuing a degree in costume design/technology.
A letter of nomination explaining why the designer should be considered for this award and resume must be submitted to the CSA National office by December 1. A committee will review the nomination and ask the nominee for a completed entry to be submitted by the following February 15.
A complete entry consists of the following:
- Nominee’s resume.
- Nominator’s recommendation, citing examples of work.
- Digital images (not less than 20 or more than 30) depicting a clear and concise documentation of the creative work of the nominee. This set of pictorial material should include rendering styles and production photos.
- Optional materials, such as website address or video.
Assemble three (3) copies of the materials listed above. It is highly recommended that the above material be burned onto a CD. If not in a CD format, then the nominator’s name shall appear on each slide or photograph and on all materials. Mail the three (3) binders/folders along with three (3) self-addressed, stamped return envelopes or padded mailers to the CSA National Office. The three sets of materials will be returned at the completion of the selection process. If return stamped mailers are not included, the judges will assume they may keep the application materials.
The selection committee consists of a chair and three members whose primary focus is in the field of theatrical costume design and costume technology. The selection committee will review the nominations and make the selection. Each committee member will serve for a term of three years.
The $500 award will be given annually. If the awardee is not a member of CSA, part of the stipend will be toward membership in CSA.
Initial nominations must be postmarked on or before December 1 and mailed to the CSA National Office. Completed entries must be postmarked on or before February 15th and mailed to the CSA National Office:
Costume Society of America
attn: Costume Design/Technology Award Committee
390 Amwell Road, Suite 402
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
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