What support for young designers looks like: Meet the Emerging Artists Collective
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Mitchell Marchment AND CELIA. H
AS TOLD TO DAISY HENRY
“Our designers challenge tradition and help shape what contemporary fashion looks like.”
The Emerging Artists Collective (EAC) was first created when photography student Kat Stevens and her peers weren’t able to partake in a traditional graduate exhibition, a result of 2021’s lockdown restrictions. Frustrated, they decided to organise their own paste-up exhibition, setting out to showcase their work on the walls of public spaces across Melbourne.
“That first project revealed the power of collaboration and made it clear how few opportunities exist for emerging artists post-university,” Kat says. “I set out to build what I felt was missing.”
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Four years on and Kat has curated, organised and directed nine projects for EAC, including several more paste-ups. Where gallery exhibitions are typically an expensive process, laneway paste-ups, which involve printing and pasting art directly onto a wall, offer a cheaper alternative. The public placement also typically means that even more passers-by will likely view the artists’ work.
EAC has also expanded into runways. From designers and models, to hair and makeup artists, lighting technicians and photographers, each show is designed to increase the visibility of emerging creatives and provide them with a platform to showcase their work. The EAC’s most recent runway, a sellout showcase held in collaboration with Melbourne Fashion Week, engaged over 50 artists.
“EAC provides a space for creativity and exposure,” Kat explains. “We give designers and artists professional images they can use, opportunities to network with fellow creatives, and most importantly, a platform where their work can be seen on the runway.” With each event, participants are given real-life, hands-on experience, helping them lean to collaborate and navigate the fast-paced nature of the fashion industry.
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Fashion Journal: Hi Kat! Tell us a little about who you are and what you do.
Kat: I’m the founder, director and producer of the Emerging Artists Collective, a not-for-profit platform that supports emerging creatives. I curate and organise art and fashion events that create accessible platforms for new voices in the arts community, something I’m deeply passionate about. My background is in photography, placing me right in the centre of our Melbourne arts community.
How did the Emerging Artists Collective first get started?
EAC was founded in 2021 in response to Covid restrictions, which prevented us from holding a traditional graduation exhibition at the end of my undergraduate degree. My fellow graduates and I decided to organise our own show, creating a paste-up exhibition in true Melbourne fashion. That first project revealed the power of collaboration and made it clear how few opportunities exist for emerging artists post-university. I graduated feeling there was a real lack of accessible, supportive programs for graduates, so I set out to build what I felt was missing.
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What’s the philosophy or driving mission behind EAC?
Since that first show in 2021, I have curated, organised and directed nine artistic shows for the EAC. These range from gallery exhibitions, laneway paste-ups and more recently, fashion runways. Our most recent show was in collaboration with Melbourne Fashion Week, selling out overnight. The EAC supports artists in any way I can make possible. Recently, I’ve expanded this to include emerging writers and art events through our Substack, where we publish articles to our growing audience of thousands.
Our mission has always been to uplift emerging designers and artists by creating space for expression, community and collaboration. I’ve been fortunate to witness a growing network of artists come together, forming connections and friendships that may never have happened without the space our shows provide.
EAC is driven by my love for connection, community and really great art. I feel incredibly lucky to be based in Melbourne, a city with a deep appreciation for creativity and a constant stream of cultural events. This environment makes it easier to generate interest and build community around new projects, which has been essential to EAC’s growth.
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What’s the typical process for putting together an exhibition or a runway?
Every show is a little different but it always begins with finding the perfect venue. We’ve been lucky to work with some fantastic spaces that share our vision and support our more unconventional ideas. Our very first fashion runway took place at the Belfry Bar, a three-storey venue. By utilising every level, we created a unique runway experience that moved through stairways from top to bottom.
We issue open call-outs for artists to get involved, making the process fair and accessible to everyone. The same approach applies to casting models, where we prioritise diversity across age, size, ethnicity and ability. Much of my work happens behind the scenes, ensuring all planning, organising and budgeting is carefully managed well before each event. I also run our social media, handle promotion and liaise with sponsors.
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How many designers and artists have you supported through the EAC?
Through the creation of nine EAC shows, we have supported hundreds of emerging designers and artists. Our commitment extends beyond those featured on stage or in the spotlight. We also provide opportunities to the entire behind-the-scenes crew, including hair and makeup artists, lighting technicians, photographers and many others. Each show is designed to involve as many creatives as possible, ensuring that everyone gains valuable hands-on experience in a real-world production environment. Our most recent fashion show supported over 50 artists from our community.
What opportunities has participating in an EAC event led to for emerging creatives?
Many artists have launched their careers through EAC and have gone on to achieve incredible things. Chelsea Farquhar, for example, designed pieces for our Unarchived runway in June 2024, having only been sewing and designing for less than a year. Since then, she has gained significant recognition, becoming a favourite among fashion enthusiasts. She recently created outfits for Aleksiah’s tour poster and styled Olympian Morgan Mitchell for the F1 Glamour on the Grid.
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EAC provides a space for creativity and exposure. We give designers and artists professional images they can use, opportunities to network with fellow creatives, and most importantly, a platform where their work can be seen on the runway. Our events also offer real-life experience in a professional setting, helping creatives learn how to work to deadlines, collaborate with teams, and navigate the fast-paced environment of the industry.
Without a showcase like EAC, the industry professionals who can open doors for emerging artists might never get the chance to see their work. As EAC continues to grow, we hope to strengthen our connections with industry specialists, allowing us to provide even greater support for the careers of emerging creatives.
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You mentioned that you have an upcoming project this October. What can you tell me about this?
We do have a new runway coming up this October! Applications are currently open for designers and models to be part of our fourth runway show. We are planning for this to be our largest capacity event yet, which is exciting as our past shows often had long ticket waitlists. We want to give everyone who wants to experience the work of emerging artists the chance to attend.
We’re going to have more designers than ever before, giving the audience a chance to discover emerging talent in Melbourne before anyone else and maybe even spot some familiar faces too.
What are you most proud of in your work with EAC?
I am really proud that I continue to grow, learn and build my skillsets. Every show teaches me something new, something I can improve next time. I’m proud of the community I have created and the genuine support I provide for young artists. I truly believe that without these showcases, many artists would not have the chance to share their talent with the world.
I’m proud to have built something that works, evolves and continues to grow. It is often easier to advocate for someone else than for yourself and the genuine joy I get from creating these events is what keeps me inspired. I’m also proud of myself for balancing all of this alongside real-life responsibilities. As we are a not-for-profit, I work a full-time job, which keeps my schedule very full. But I believe you make time for what you value and what you want to see in the world.
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What about the local fashion industry needs to change?
Accessibility and flexibility. Not everything has to be ready-to-wear and not everything has to be serious. Fashion can be fun, playful, beautiful and bold. The industry often takes itself too seriously, making you feel like you have to be an expert at everything to belong. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We need to be more supportive, more collaborative and more connected as a community. We should learn from each other and celebrate each other’s successes. One person’s win is not your loss. It’s a reminder that there is room for all of us to thrive.
Who or what is exciting you in fashion right now?
Bold, beautiful and out-there designs are exciting me right now. Our designers challenge tradition and help shape what contemporary fashion looks like. A few of my favourites from past shows include Chelsea Farquhar, Darcey Burch, Karma Corbett, and Valentina Valentino, just to name a few. These designers are not only incredibly talented, they are also kind-hearted and a joy to work with.
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I feel so comfortable in the Melbourne art scene because of the openness and generosity of the community. I entered the fashion space, which I was unfamiliar with and I have been met with support at every turn. The EAC is built by the people who make each show happen – the designers, the models, the hair and makeup teams, the photographers and videographers, the graphic designers, the lighting technicians and the volunteers.
When I say ‘we’, I know that behind the scenes it’s just me doing the planning and organising, but ‘we’ truly means the whole community involved. It’s all of us who bring the shows to life.
How can young creatives get involved with EAC?
Our Instagram, @emergingartists_collective has our new call-outs for designers and models for our show later this year. If you have ideas about how you’d like to get involved, send us a DM. I love connecting with the community and hearing fresh ideas. If I can support you through the platform, I absolutely will.
Keep up with Kat and the Emerging Artists Collective here.
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