Fashion Forward 2026 - Call for Artists
OMAH invites artists to create wearable art inspired by museum artifacts using sustainable materials for March 2026 event.
The Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH) is launching a Call for Artists for Fashion Forward 2026, a highly anticipated event taking place Saturday, March 28, 2026. This unique opportunity invites artists, designers, and makers to transform objects, stories, and histories into wearable works of art. The 2026 theme, "From Artefact to Eco-Act," challenges participants to draw inspiration from artifacts in OMAH's permanent collection while embracing sustainable, found, and repurposed materials. This theme celebrates creativity at the intersection of art, heritage, and environmental consciousness, all expressed through innovative fashion. Fashion Forward is open to artists, artisans, designers, and makers of all experience levels, including individual creators, collaborative teams, and student/youth artists. All works must be original, wearable, and safe for runway or static display presentation. Artists must be available for dress rehearsal on March 21, 2026 and the main event. Selected artists will receive additional opportunities including pre-event photography, inclusion in promotional videos and social media campaigns, and display of at least one rendering in an accompanying exhibition running March 28 through May 2026. Submissions are evaluated based on creativity and originality, connection to art/history/environment, craftsmanship and presentation quality, and feasibility and safety of the piece.