Buffalo Fashion Week partnered with Buffalo City School District for the Empower The Arts Competition, an initiative that uplifts the youth with passion for arts and creativity.

5th-12th grade students interested in participating in the competition must follow these steps:

1. Create Your Artwork

  • Artwork must be created on a canvas.

  • The maximum canvas size is 24 x 36 inches (no minimum size requirement).

  • The theme should align with streetwear aesthetics, focusing on urban, grunge, distressed, industrial, or deconstructed elements.

  • The artwork must be original—no AI-generated, copied, or previously published work will be accepted.

2. Complete the Application Form

  • Students must fill out a physical application form when they drop off their artwork. The form will ask for:

    • Full name

    • School name & grade level

    • Contact information (email & phone Number)

    • Title of artwork (if applicable)

    • Short artist statement (1–3 sentences about the inspiration behind the piece)

3. Drop Off Your Artwork

  • Date: April 17, 2025

  • Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

  • Location: Downtown Buffalo Library, Auditorium (1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203)

  • Important: No late submissions will be accepted

  • At drop-off, students will have the opportunity to take a photo with their artwork and may be asked to do a brief interview about their piece and creative process.

4. Selection & Notification

  • After submissions close, the Buffalo Fashion Week team will review all artworks and select pieces to be displayed at the Buffalo Fashion Week Spring 2025 Fashion Show on May 3, 2025.

  • Selected students will be notified via email or phone by [notification date to be determined].

  • Each selected student will receive one free ticket to the event.

  • Any artwork that doesn’t get selected will be returned to the schools they’re from.

5. Attend Buffalo Fashion Week & See Your Art on Display!

  • Selected artwork will be showcased in one of the mixer areas at Buffalo Fashion Week’s Spring 2025 Fashion Show on May 3, 2025.

  • Artists will be recognized on Buffalo Fashion Week’s social media and website.

6. Cash Prize Winner

  • Guests at the show will be able to vote for their favorite art piece. The art piece with the most votes will receive a cash prize during the intermission or conclusion of our show.

For any questions about the competition, please contact medwards@buffalofw.com