INTERFORM - the new platform merging Arkansas Arts & Fashion Forum and Northwest Arkansas Fashion Week.
As of February 1st, 2021 Arkansas Arts & Fashion Forum (AAFF) and Northwest Arkansas Fashion Week (NWAFW) will merge into one organization titled
INTERFORM, an original word coined by the organization that is defined as “the mutual expression of art, fashion, and community.” INTERFORM’s new headquarters, THE FORUM, will be located at 117 W Emma Street in Springdale, AR with THE ANNEX sewing studio and educational space at the Creative Arkansas Community Hub and Exchange (CACHE)’s building at 214 S Main Street.
As the programming portfolios of AAFF and NWAFW have grown and intersected, both organizations see the merger as the absolute best path forward, working comprehensively on concept creation, education, and event production. With the brand INTERFORM, this newly expanded platform will build connections, community, and relationships across mediums, across platforms, and across cultural divides.
INTERFORM will remain true to the core values established under the previous company names with a collaborative and unified approach. INTERFORM is simultaneously launching a new website – interform.art – that serves as a focal point for information on all upcoming events and will host livestream content native to the INTERFORM platform.
LEARN, MAKE, SHOW
INTERFORM’s programming is conceptualized around three main pillars: LEARN, MAKE, SHOW.
INTERFORM | LEARN: Provides opportunities for creatives to gain the experience necessary to succeed in their creative pursuits, create conversations that expand our understanding of community, and teach transferable skills that can expand participant’s economic and creative horizons.
INTERFORM | EXHIBIT: Highlights creative professionals who are committed to building a vibrant and diverse creative community in Northwest Arkansas, creating platforms for creators across artistic and design mediums to showcase their creative endeavors to the broader public.
INTERFORM | MAKE: Focuses on incubating a sewn trades and fashion design platform in Northwest Arkansas. Working with small designers, mid-sized brands, and newly launched projects to propel entrepreneurial opportunities in sewn trades, create opportunities for diverse communities, and build capacities for small batch manufacturing in the region.
NEW YEAR, NEW PROGRAMS, NEW TEAM
With a new name comes new programs and events such as INTERFORM | Art Annual, a month-long exhibition of art, music, fashion, and film set to take place in June of 2021. This event will center in and around Downtown Springdale, AR, and will activate spaces across the area, with the majority of installations and performances on and around Emma Ave. Applications are now live on interform.art/art-annual and close Feb 12.
INTERFORM is also excited to announce EMERGE II, a designer cohort featuring monthly workshop weekends held from March through June where designers will learn from industry experts on how to grow their business with a curriculum focused on production and manufacturing. Designers will learn about product development, brand development, small batch manufacturing, and related topics. Applications for EMERGE II are also due Feb 12 and can be found at: interform.art/emerge
As programming has expanded so too has the creative and professional staff at INTERFORM. With expertise ranging from art curation, fashion design and education, master tailoring, creative and artistic direction, non-profit development, public and radio personality, music production, and live event production, the team at INTERFORM is set to take on big ideas with a community focus. Learn more about this great group at: interform.art/about-us
In addition, a livestream platform will feature speaker events, designer collections, and custom content over the next several months. Small batch design projects will be available for retail online, and collections from INTERFORM | EMERGE designers will be on display in the storefront of THE FORUM on Emma Ave. starting in late February and through June. More information about upcoming programming will be available at: interform.art/current
INTERFORM will continue to develop programming that is relevant and provides educational opportunities and professional support for aspiring designers, artists, and other creative professionals who are committed to building a vibrant and inspired creative fashion community in Arkansas.
For more information please Contact:
Rochelle Bailey (she/her/hers)
Communications Coordinator, INTERFORM
Robin Wallis Atkinson (she/her/hers)
Chief Executive Officer, INTERFORM