21st ArtWear Biennial: Where Fashion Meets Fine Art

 Exhibition Dates: September 7-15, 2024

CALL DESCRIPTION

The City of Fort Collins, Colorado, is seeking designers of one-of-a-kind wearable art garments and accessories (no jewelry, please) for the 21st ArtWear Biennial.  The ArtWear Biennial is dedicated to highlighting the work of wearable art artists. The week-long event includes a fashion show, sales gallery, and other fiber art and wearable art programs throughout the week of September 7-15, 2024. Wearable art in all media and styles are welcome, including garments, ensembles, hats, scarves, and handbags. Garments for both men and women are encouraged. Individuals or collaborative teams will be considered. Our goal is to present and sell innovative and wearable work of the highest quality and provide a forum to share our enthusiasm for an exploration of techniques and materials. 

AWARDS

$1,000 grand prize

$500 prize for excellence in creativity

$500 prize for excellence in technique

VENUE

The Community Center for Creativity in the Historic Carnegie Library is a city-owned and operated cultural center in Fort Collins, Colorado. This newly renovated facility is a community-focused space for gallery exhibitions, performances, classes, and special events. ArtWear is a fundraiser for the City of Fort Collins Visual Arts exhibitions at The Lincoln Center. The Lincoln Center is a city-owned facility and one of Northern Colorado’s premier venues for performing and visual arts, special events, weddings, and corporate meetings.

ENTRY FEES AND PAYMENT

$25 for up to 3 garments or accessories, plus three detail views. Residents of the Growth Management Area of Fort Collins receive a discount with the following code: AWLOCAL.

CALENDAR

Deadline for Entries: July 15, 2024 (EXTENDED)

Notification to artists: Week of July 22

Completion of online inventory form: August 5, 2024

Delivery of shipped artwork:  August 12–16, 2024, please, no earlier and no later. Work delivered after the deadline will be included in the Sales Gallery but may not be included in the Fashion Show.

Hand deliveries of work: August 19, 2024, 12-3 p.m.

ArtWear Biennial Fashion Show, two shows on Saturday, September 7

Sales Gallery Dates: September 7–15, 2024

Return of artwork: Shipped the week of September 16, 2024

SALES

All accepted garments and accessories must be available to be tried on by prospective buyers and must be available for sale in the Sales Gallery. Designers may set the retail price and the City of Fort Collins will retain a 40% commission on all sales made because of the event.

SHIPPING/INSURANCE/SALES

Shipping of artworks is the responsibility of the artist. Works must be shipped in sturdy reusable containers. Please include any special packing instructions. The City of Fort Collins will pay for return shipment of work via Standard Ground but will charge for any additional packaging required for safe return shipping. Complete shipping instructions will be included with notification of acceptance.

Garments will be insured for 60% of their retail value while on the City of Fort Collins premises and during out-going shipping. We will exercise due care in handling all work submitted for the event.

KEY EVENT CONDITIONS

• Artworks must be wearable in the fashion show and present during the entire exhibition period.
• Garment tags will be removed from the garment and replaced with ArtWear tags.
• The City of Fort Collins ArtWear reserves the right to use submitted images of the artworks for educational and promotional purposes including but not limited to newspaper, television, radio, and internet. Upon acceptance artists may also be asked to submit additional high-resolution images for such purposes.
• ArtWear reserves the right not to exhibit a work selected by the jury for any reason.

Have questions or need help?
Questions concerning the exhibition or call for entry requirements should be directed to Liz Good, The Lincoln Center, at lgood@fcgov.com or 970-416-2646.
Assistance in using the CaFE system is available during regular business hours via email at CaFE@westaf.org or by calling 303-629-1166.

Application Requirements

ArtWear designers are selected by jury based on image examples submitted for entry. For a fee of $25 designers may submit digital images of up to 3 garments or accessories that exemplify work that is available for the ArtWear Biennial Fashion Show and Sales Gallery. One additional detailed image per garment is allowed. If accepted by the jury, designers will be asked to send up to 6 garments, ensembles, or accessories of their choice for the ArtWear Biennial event. All garments and accessories must be available for sale. Selected garments and accessories will be shown on the fashion-show runway.

Eligibility Criteria

The show is open to all wearable art and fiber art artists within the United States and Canada. All works must be original to the designer and completed within the last two years. The City of Fort Collins has a right to reject a garment or accessory at any time.