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 to professional costume designers/technicians and/or to a student pursuing a graduate degree.
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 nor 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
*Digital images sized at 72 dpi
The selection committee consists of a chair and five 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.
Award of Excellence in Costume Design/Technology Committee Chair
Carol Colburn
Award of Excellence in Costume Design/Technology Committee Members
Whitney Blausen
Barbara Cox
Mary H. Farahnakian
Karan Feder
Patricia M. Wesp
The $500 award will be given annually. If the awardee is not a member of CSA, part of the stipend will be applied toward membership in CSA.
Initial nominations must be received on or before December 1. Completed entries must be received on or before February 15th.
Email initial nominations and completed entries to Karan Feder.
To facilitate the final phase of the award process, the committee requires that your entry be submitted electronically. Ideally, please provide a direct Internet link to your entry materials via your professional or personal website. Alternatively, materials may be submitted using a free large file sharing application such as Dropbox.com or Google Drive. All digital images submitted via Dropbox or Google Drive must be sized no larger than 72 dpi. If you are submitting video clips, please do not upload but provide a direct Internet link for viewing the file.
With any questions concerning the nomination or application process, please email Karan Feder.
With questions concerning the award please email Award of Excellence in Costume Design/Technology Selection Committee Chair Carol Colburn. | 
