25 September 2023 – Entries open

23 October 2023 – Entries close

30 October – Applicants notified

20 November 2023 – Content for each program must be ready

23 February - 9 March - Program commences

View application preview here

What is the Fashion Culture Programme?

The Fashion Culture Programme is a carefully considered selection of diverse events unique to PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival. The programme celebrates fashion’s presence in contemporary culture through a myriad of workshops, open studios, exhibitions, performances, runways, screenings and more.

It is brought to life by Australia's leading fashion creatives, institutions, and organisers, it provides a platform for fashion practitioners to explore the space outside commercial fashion, demonstrating the depth and breadth of contemporary fashion practice.

The Fashion Culture Programme explores fashion and its relationship with art and design, and its influence on society and culture. The majority of the Fashion Culture Programme will run from 23 February to 3 March 2024.

Please ensure that your independent event is scheduled to fall within our festival dates to be included as part of our official programme. Reach out to our programming team if you would like to guidance on selecting a day/time that would work well with the rest of the official programme.

Why should I be part of the Fashion Culture Programme?

Listing and promoting your event as part of the official festival programme connects you to a highly engaged, fashion focused audience. All programmes will be supported through our promotional campaigns and integration into our digital and social channel activations. Key fashion media will be provided with an itinerary for all Fashion Culture Programme events for consideration in their overall festival attendance and coverage schedules.

What does it cost to be part of the Fashion Culture Programme?

There is no cost to be part of the Fashion Culture Programme. However, note that all activities promoted through the programme are self-managed and self-funded, must engage and be available to the public to attend, whether free or ticketed.

You are responsible for the production of your activity, including compliance across venue hire, talent booking and image usage rights, stakeholder management, legal employment conditions, insurance, and all related activity components, including a highly recommended  Acknowledgement of/or Welcome to Country. You are also responsible for ensuring your activity is safe and accessible for all in attendance.

What is a Fashion Culture Programme event?

Workshops, open studios, exhibitions, performances, runways, screenings and more. If oyu have and idea that you think works please apply!

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival is proud to showcase a wide range of fashion makers, creatives and cultural organisations from the creative community at the festival. The Festival curates an exciting Fashion Culture Programme of events staged by independent organisers and promoted in the Festival’s official schedule.

The Festival does not own, produce or operate the activities on the Fashion Culture Programme. The organisers of these activities are responsible for the complete event delivery, compliance and regulatory and mandatory requirements to operate an event safely.

How do I apply to be part of the Fashion Culture Programme?

To apply you will need to fill out the online form for an expression of interest. This will be assessed by our programmeing team, and you will be contacted with the outcome of your application.

How does my application get assessed?

Applications are assessed on the following but not limited to:

Suitability of the Programme

Demonstrating an engagement with fashion

Alignment with the festival values

Feasibility

Quality of application

Scope of interest

Creativity

Response to and providing a complete application

Will the festival fund my event?

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival is not a ‘commissioning’ festival.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for funding or grants, should they need financial assistance to fulfil their events.

Can I get a sponsor for my event?

The festival engages a suite of sponsoring partners to fund our year-round activities and festival produced events, and as such is responsible for ensuring their contractual rights and benefits are protected across the festival’s platforms and activities.  

As an independent participant in the Fashion Culture Programme should you be in the process of obtaining or will seek to obtain financial sponsorship or in-kind support for your activity, we request that you disclose this to the festival. This will enable us to manage any potential conflict risks.

When should I have my event?

The key dates of Fashion Culture Programme will run from 23 February to 3 March 2024

Please ensure that your event is scheduled to fall within or in part of these dates to be included as part of our official program. Reach out to our programming team if you would like to guidance on selecting a day/time that would work well with the rest of the official program.

While the Festival will endeavour to accommodate all proposed date(s) and time(s), you may be advised to select an alternative date and/or time in order to reduce activity clashes and maximise audience attendance.  We recommend that you contact the festival to schedule your proposed date(s) and time(s) as soon as possible.  

What is involved with putting on an event?

You are responsible for the production of your activity, including compliance across venue hire, talent booking and image usage rights, stakeholder management, legal employment conditions, insurance and all related activity components, including a highly recommended Acknowledgement of/or Welcome to Country. You are also responsible for ensuring your activity is safe and accessible for all in attendance.

The festival advises that every participant should do a risk assessment analysing any risks connected to their event that includes identification of risks, controls and checklists for how to mitigate them, responsibilities of the person/people controlling the risks, and actions to be taken should incidents occur.

Your question not answered here?

Please reach out to programming@MFF.com.au we are happy to assist.

View full terms and conditions here