CSA Costume Design Award

About this program

The Costume Society of America offers the annual CSA Costume Design Award to recognize excellence in costume design for productions with living performers (theatre, dance, opera, film, television, internet and other performance venues); the winner receives a certificate, a $750 honorarium (partially applied to CSA membership if the awardee is not a member) and is invited to present at the next CSA National Symposium with a $600 travel stipend and paid day‑of registration. Eligible nominations document excellence in a single production performed within the 12 months preceding the deadline and must be submitted as one PDF (under 100 MB) via the CSA online form containing a title page with contact information, up to 25 labeled images or links to short video clips (production overview, renderings, executed costumes), and a proposal addressing medium/venue, concept/director vision, collaboration, inspiration/challenges, how costumes advance story and characterization, and execution. Entries are scored 1–10 across six criteria (including design approach, collaboration, contribution to storytelling, presentation of renderings, and quality of executed costumes); deadline is 1 November 2025 and nominees will be notified in mid‑January 2026.