Dream awake: World of WearableArt
The magic and vibrancy of WOW will once again encompass audiences with a truly ethereal experience in late 2024.
Returning to Wellington’s TSB Arena from 26 September to 13 October, the World of WearableArt Show will combine revolutionary wearable art with captivating entertainment.
The theme, Dream Awake, will allow audiences to do just that.
Expect to be transported through six awe-inspiring dreamscapes with groundbreaking audio and visual technology, inspired by each competition design theme.
“The creative team will be pushing the boundaries to captivate everyone who takes the journey with us this year,” executive creative director Brian Burke says.
Brian is excited for what will become the 37th show.
“We have jaw-dropping performances, unique aerial artistry, extravagant costumes, state-of-the-art 3D projection and lighting, and of course phenomenal wearable art from around the world, all coming together in a visual spectacle you can only experience at WOW.”
Taking on the response of audience members yearning to get closer to each garment, Brian, the international Emmy-nominated television producer decided an upgrade was in order. “We know people love to see the detail of the garments, so are constantly exploring ways to bring them closer,” Brian explains. To that end, the show this year will be accompanied by a newly built stage with live cameras for giant projections, to showcase the intricacies of each design.
WOW chief executive Meg Williams adds that through Brian’s visionary guidance, the show has gone from strength to strength. “What he has connected WOW into is some of the world’s leading theatre technology and stagecraft, to continue to evolve and lift the experiences, and the audiences are loving it.”
With inspiration from the breadth of extraordinary garment designers, both local and beyond, Brian creates an experience like no other, bringing forward local talents in the performing arts industry too.
At the heart of WOW sits its wearable art competition. Over $185,000 in awards and prizes are up for grabs this year, across six sections and multiple special awards. This includes three recurring sections, Aotearoa, Avant-Garde, and Open, as well as three unique categories for 2024: Crazy Curiosities of the Creature Carnival, Natural World, and Geometric Abstraction. Both international and local entries so far have been of phenomenal quality, the team says.
Designers are rising to the challenge of the new Transformation Innovation Award, which requires a design that completely transforms onstage.
Tickets are selling fast to peak performances, but there are still excellent seats, VIP experiences, and exclusive backstage tours available. Book now to get your pick and enjoy an incredible celebration of wearable art and spectacle.
