User:KDGust/sandbox

The International Costumers' Guild (ICG) is an international group with the aim of bringing hobbyist and professional costumers from around the world together, and fostering local educational and social costume events through its chapters. It is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in the United States in the state of Maryland.

The ICG is an affiliated group of geographical chapters and one internet chapter. Members share interests in all facets of dress including Historical, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Media, and Anime costumes as well as cultural clothing and regalia. Members range in skill from beginners to professional costumers. Some members explore related arts, including special effects, prop construction, millinery, embroidery, quilting and wearable art. Others are technicians whose interests cover the running and support of theater and competitions at conventions in areas such as lighting, sound, stage management, makeup, backstage support, photography, and videography.

History
The International Costumers' Guild was formed in 1985 by Alexander Martin (Marty) Gear and a small group of friends as a non-profit amateur group specializing in the educational and social nature of all aspects of costuming. The ICG is incorporated under the laws the state of Maryland and headed by a board of directors consisting of officers nominated by the membership. The slate is voted on and affirmed at the annual meeting held in conjunction with Costume-Con or another designated venue. The Board consists of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary. In addition, each chapter selects a Board Representative annually from among their members. There is also a parliamentarian  for the board and a number of appointed committees for such services as Publications, Public Relations, and Technology and Web.

The International Costumer newsletter is provided to all members of the ICG as part of the annual membership dues in an on-line edition. Back issues from September 2002 are available online to anyone. ICG also maintains an online list of conventions and has several social media outlets.

The organization also operates the Pat and Peggy Kennedy Memorial Archives. It includes a gallery of costuming photography that is available to the public online. Archivists and members are actively involved in adding additional images. The archive also has a collection of print material, videos and realia. The digitized print archive includes back issues of Costumer’s Quarterly, a magazine produced from 1987 to 2001. Ongoing projects from the archive include the ICG Archives Road Show and a YouTube Channel.

The ICG and Costume-Con
The International Costumers’ Guild is not affiliated with Costume-Con, but its members frequently bid to host the annual event with its emphasis on costuming of all types and its multiple competitions. Due to strong member attendance at Costume-Con, the ICG has historically held its annual in-person board and member meetings and presented the Guild's major awards at the convention.

Guidelines to Insure Fair Competition
Over the years the International Costumers’ Guild has developed entry division guidelines to ensure a fair competition playing field through the introduction of skill divisions for participants in large costume contests and masquerade competitions. These guidelines are used for judging both the workmanship and presentation of costumes by many local, regional and international conventions including Costume-Con, Worldcon and Anime North.

Chapters and SIGs
The first chapter of the ICG was the Greater Columbia Fantasy Costumers’ Guild. There are 20 chapters as of 2015. Chapters have locally elected officers. These usually consist of, at minimum, a president, secretary and treasurer. In addition, each chapter selects a Board Representative who must also be an officer of the chapter. Geographic chapters sponsor projects of local interest such as social events, lectures on costuming related topics, group trips to museums and exhibits, classes to assist members in developing design, sewing and hands on garment conservation skills, and hold benefits for charitable organizations. Some chapters have regular meetings and offer a newsletter for members.

The Silicon Web Costumers’ Guild internet chapter does not hold events. It sponsors a chat group and produces a quarterly e-zine called The Virtual Costumer. Back issues are available to the general public after a current issue embargo.

Special interest groups (SIGs) were added to the ICG in 2014. They must be ratified by the Board after a formal application process. Members of SIGs must also be members in good standing of a chapter of the ICG. The current SIGs are:


 * Miss Lizzy’s Traveling Historical Fashion Show
 * Props and Costume Special Effects (Props/SFX)

Awards
The ICG has given out one major award on an annual basis since 1990. The Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA) is an open nomination process. The award is voted on by the ICG officers and chapter presidents and is usually presented at the conclusion of the Science Fiction and Fantasy masquerade at Costume-Con.

Holders of the ICG Lifetime Achievement Award are listed on the ICG website. The President’s Award is given at the discretion of the ICG President to recognize extraordinary service to the International Costumers' Guild. The first presentations of this award were made in 2003.

Grants
In 2014 the ICG established The Marty Gear Costuming Arts and Sciences Fund to provide grants for innovative projects and activities that promote the art and science of costuming, either in a specific locale or the community as a whole. The fund was named in memory of founder Alexander Martin Gear and offers grants to members or groups of members for any project or activity that advances the art and science of costuming and benefits the costuming community as a whole or a local costuming community. Grant proposals are accepted and evaluated by a committee who select awardees. As of April 2015 two grants have been made.