Call for Entries

The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes (The ARTS Council) is thrilled to announce its signature fashion fundraising event will be held Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Corning Museum of Glass, One Museum Way, Corning, NY!

This is a juried call. Designers of all ages are welcome. Designers can submit as many proposals as they wish, however, the panel may have to limit the number of accepted designs. 

Please refer to the Design Guidelines to create your proposal. Use the link to access the online submission form and upload your design. Proposals are due on Friday, June 27, 2025. The results of the jurying will be announced on Friday, July 18, 2025.

Tell us as much as you can about your proposed design. We understand that as art unfolds, it evolves and often changes. We won’t hold you to exactly what you propose but do want to know about the materials and concept so that we can ensure an eclectic and diverse fashion show. The more information you provide, the better we will be able to assess your proposal. Please see the attached successful proposal example.

If your design is chosen, you will be included in the Designers-Only Facebook page. Materials can be sourced through the Facebook page. 

Key Dates:

• Friday, June 27, 2025 - Proposal deadline
• Friday, July 18, 2025 - Notification to designers

Participation in the following is mandatory:

• Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Mandatory Zoom Meeting Designer Introduction
• Friday, October 11, 2025 - Photos & Updates
• Friday, November 14, 2025- Photos & Updates
• Friday, December 12, 2025 - Photos & Updates
• Friday, January 16, 2026 - Program Language (50 words, Materials and Concept)
• Sunday, February 22, 2026 - Rehearsal (attendance required, 11am – 2pm)
• Saturday, March 6, 2026 - Dress Rehearsal and Fashion Show – All Day

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Design Guidelines

The ARTS Council's Fashion Show features one-of-a-kind creations by artists, using recycled or repurposed materials.

The theme for 2026 is Tilted Paradise. Something is amiss. Not quite right—just a little off-kilter. Tilted Paradise invites fashion that leans; literally and metaphorically. Think lush layers, asymmetrical silhouettes, and textures with extras.

What’s your whimsical spin on Pirates of the Caribbean? Or do you see Jimmy Buffett sipping rum in a Margaritaville that’s a bit too utopian? Maybe it’s the clashing languor and grungy grit of the ‘90s. Or the sweet-and-sour tension of Stranger Things - dark, nostalgic, a little wild. Perhaps you feel the cerebral disquiet of a Salvador Dalí landscape. Or maybe it’s the cloying mask of sun-drenched luxury in The White Lotus, where paradise dresses itself with a knowing smirk. 

Innocent or unsettled? Wistful or wicked? What do you see when you peek behind the vibrant flora and fauna of paradise?

All recycled materials are acceptable. Materials must be community-sourced – no purchasing materials for use in designs. Past designers have created their garments with used items such as plastic bags, feathers, warming blankets from a marathon, CDs and DVDs, newspaper, dryer lint, old tarps, candy wrappers, vinyl records, used videotape, and much more. Sew, weave, or assemble your materials. Please label the sketch of your design so the panel can imagine your vision.

Found organic materials are acceptable, but please don’t denude any trees in pursuit of fashion.

The means of construction don’t have to be recycled. You may use notions like thread, staples, or tape to hold things together.

Collaborate if you want. Collaborative design teams are a great way to tackle a creative dream and build relationships. We all know flights of fancy can happen when creative people get together! The fashion show is a fun opportunity for inspired coworkers or crafty friends to work together for a great cause.

The final product needs to be a transformative creation. Create high fashion from other people’s castaways. Creating something new from something old is essential – just wearing old clothes doesn’t count. The Design Panel prefers proposals that show a complete transformation of materials that renders individual materials unrecognizable from their original purpose.

Model your design or recruit a model. If you’d like to design but don’t want to strut the runway, find a model – and a muse! Models are required to attend a preliminary rehearsal near the show date and the dress rehearsal.

Hair and makeup: Professional hair styling and makeup will be provided. Hair and make-up are part of the design concept.

Proposals: Although you can submit multiple designs, we may limit the number of accepted proposals and/or runway walks to include as many designers as possible. Multiple designs may be accepted as a group that will walk the runway together (i.e. a couple or variations on a theme).

Questions? Contact Meghan at meghan@eARTS.org. 

Welcome to the 2025 Artist Development Grant Application.

Please visit the Artist Development Grant Webpage to see a list of guidelines and other grant support materials. You may save your application at any time to return to before submitting. If you are completing multiple applications you must complete and submit your first application before you can start an additional application.

Contact Chris Walters, The ARTS Council's Grants Manager & Gallery Curator, at chris@eARTS.org for assistance.

Welcome to the 2025 QuickARTS Grant Application.

Please visit the QuickARTS Grant Webpage to see a list of guidelines and other grant support materials. You may save your application at any time to return to before submitting. If you are completing multiple applications you must complete and submit your first application before you can start an additional application.

Contact Chris Walters, The ARTS Council's Grants Manager & Gallery Curator, at chris@eARTS.org for assistance.

Please complete this form within 30 days of completion of your grant funded project.