The Thelma Afford Award for Costume Design in Stage and 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 students and professionals. The recipient of the awards receives $10,000 towards further education and study may be full-time, part-time, at a summer school or as part of a formal mentorship program.

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.

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.

For further information regarding the award, please read the Terms and Conditions prior to starting your application.

For more information click here