Artistic Dress

Online exhibition celebrates the avant-garde epoch.

FIDM
Museum &
Galleries
Foundation

The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design

Online highlights include Oscar®-
nominated
costumes

Dressing a Galaxy

Online Star Wars costume design exhibition.

Mission:

The purpose of the FIDM Museum & Galleries is to provide students, educators, scholars and industry personnel with a costume and textile resource to explore and examine the role of costumes and textiles in their relationship to society and history. The collection is sustained with standard museum practices for continued acquisition and preservation of costumes and textiles, with a focus on the development of education, exhibition, outreach and volunteer programs.

History:

The FIDM Museum & Library, Inc. was founded in 1978 to serve FIDM and the community. Since January 1999, the museum's operations have been separate from the Library in order to offer more specialized care and attention to the specific needs of a costume collection, and museum-trained personnel have been added to the staff.

Development:

The Museum has been the recipient of the Getty Multicultural Internship grant and welcomes design interns. Costume donations are gratefully received if they fall into the parameters of the Museum Collections Policy.

Volunteers:

Volunteers and Gallery Docents are most welcome. Please call 213.624.1200 x3367 for more information.

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Exhibitions:

Since 1991, exhibitions have been viewed in the FIDM Museum & Galleries on the ground floor of the college. February 2000 saw the opening of our expanded galleries. Exhibitions are installed throughout the year, and range from traveling exhibitions to FIDM students' work and FIDM-developed installations. Annually, the FIDM Museum & Galleries presents "The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" featuring costumes from the previous year's best films and a sampling of Academy Award©-nominated costumes. Please visit the Galleries Archives for more information.

Events & Educational Programs:

The Museum & Galleries host non-profit organizations for educational events such as lectures, meetings and tours.

Museum Collections:

The Los Angeles campus houses a Permanent and Study collection of over 10,000 costumes, accessories and textiles from the 18th century through the present day, including film and theater costume. It is one of the largest such collections in the United States and top designer holdings include Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Lacroix. The Annette Green Perfume Museum, America's only museum dedicated to the historical and cultural roles of fragrance around the world, will have a permanent residence at the FIDM Museum & Galleries in Spring 2006. The FIDM Museum also houses the early Hollywood Costume Collection on loan from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks.

Study Collection:

Initially chosen by the faculty to reflect the curriculum, the study collection comprises 1,000 objects and is made up of garments, accessories, footwear and textiles. The collection is hands-on, allowing students and faculty the opportunity to examine historical construction, pattern development and sewing techniques.

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