Call for Designers: Skirt Design Challenge

About SkirtsAfire

Founded in 2012, SkirtsAfire is Edmonton’s theatre and multidisciplinary arts organization featuring women. In conjunction with International Women’s Day, our 10 day programming runs each March at various venues in Old Strathcona. We present powerful and insightful stories to a diverse audience that is hungry to be moved by passionate performances and exhibitions. Programming reflects the true diversity of the thriving arts community in Alberta and Canada, and is adaptive in its approach in order to remain responsive to the needs of artists and audiences.

SkirtsAfire Festival values diversity in the artists we represent and therefore welcomes artists of all diverse backgrounds, including cis and trans women, non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centres the experiences of women, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and artists of all ethnicities and all abilities.

The History of our Skirt Designs

The first skirt was designed and built for SkirtsAfire in 2013. It became the Official Skirt that year, and was proudly featured in the Nina Art Gallery for the duration of the programming. In 2014, we opened up the Official Skirt design as a challenge in order to expand and allow for the ability to showcase more than one designer each year. Check out our 2022 Design Challenge here.

Skirt Design Displays 2023

We are excited to partner with the Old Strathcona Business Association and their local businesses again this year to display our Skirt Designs around Whyte Avenue for our 11th annual festival in March 2023.

We will be choosing 4 local artists to design a skirt that will be modelled live at our A-Line Variety Show, then displayed as part of 1 of 4 participating retailer’s window displays. The catch is everything has to be made with upcycled materials, donated by retailers, sponsors and the artists themselves. The designer will work with the Skirt Design Coordinator, who will offer guidance and feedback, to build a piece that works with the overall vision of the full window display. The skirt model wearing the skirt design at the A-Line Variety Show will be determined before designing begins.

Each designer will receive an honorarium of $500. The A-Line Variety Show will take place on Thursday, March 2 and the designs will be on display at the retailer’s from March 3-March 12.

Submissions

Theme: Adaptation

Please fill out the form below to apply to be 1 of 4 designers in the Skirt Design Displays. We are not asking for a concept for your proposed design, but instead we are requesting information and examples of your design background and skills to create a piece using up-cycled materials. We are looking at the potential for unique, extraordinary and thinking outside-the-box style skirt designs that will fill the scope of the grand window display as its feature. Need inspiration? Scroll down to check out past designs!

Deadline to submit is November 30, 2022.

Questions? Please email skirtdesign@skirtsafire.com.