Thelma Afford Award for Costume Design in Stage & Screen

The Thelma Afford Award for Costume Design in Stage and Screen was established to promote the further study of theatre, film or TV costume design, in various visual dramatic media, for young matriculating high school art students or students from drama and art schools.

Professionals wishing to participate in further education in costume design are also welcome to apply. The award is an initiative of the late Thelma May Afford, an Australian designer, theatre performer and journalist. Thelma Afford was a talented designer who explored the uses of various media for her costume work and was a recognised authority on the history of costume and theatre in Australia.

In 1934, she was commissioned to design for the Melbourne centenary pageant, then, in 1936, to design the South Australia’s centenary celebrations and she was later called to Sydney to design the costumes for the sesqui-centenary pageant. She enjoyed costume designing on a large scale and professed that period costumes’ gave a designer more scope than modern clothes.

Thelma’s designs for the 1936 Centenary event included innovative interpretations of technology as well as agricultural products and flora and fauna. With her background in the history of costume she brought wonderful authenticity to her costume designs of significant early settlers.

Entries Open: 17 August 2020 – 5pm, 30 October 2020

Winner Announced: 6 December 2020

As per Thelma Afford’s wishes, recipients shall use the award monies to further their education or training, in Australia or overseas, in visual arts, including the history of period clothes, at any art school or university that has a suitable course.

Study may be full-time, part-time, at a summer school or as part of a formal mentorship program.

One recipient will be chosen, and will receive $10,000.

For further information regarding the award, please read the Terms and Conditions below before entering.

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For more information click on the below link:

The Thelma Afford Award info