Costume Designer
/Job Title:
Costume Designer
Organization:
Opera Kelowna
Deadline:
Oct. 30, 2026
Organization Description:
Founded in 2013 by Alexandra Babbel and a group of local arts leaders, today, Opera Kelowna is led by Artistic Director Rosemary Thomson, and Managing Director Brianna Wells. Following our values of inclusion and artistic exploration, Opera Kelowna reaches an annual audience of roughly 5000 people with a full-scale production from the traditional operatic canon, contemporary Canadian opera presentations, and a wide range of community, enrichment and education programming. We are a registered, non-profit, charitable status society and member of the Association for Opera in Canada and the BC Arts and Culture Alliance.
Our Mission:
Crafting unique and inviting opera for the Okanagan.
Our Vision:
Be an innovative opera company that celebrates artistic imagination and connects with our community.
Our Values
Accessibility: we create opportunities for everyone to engage in opera.
Collaboration: we are committed to strengthening our community and our art form through reciprocal relationships.
Growth: we build appreciation for opera; capacity of our artists; and knowledge of our board and staff.
Imagination: we are curious and courageous in approaching opportunities, art and challenges.
Inclusivity: we build practices that continually address biases and barriers that may negatively impact those who work with and for us.
Integrity: we do what we say; we are accountable to our partners, artists, supporters, and audiences.
Sustainability: we are focused on building our organizational capacity and resilience for the long term.
Website:
Job Description:
Opera Kelowna is seeking a Costume Designer for our August 2027 mainstage production. You will design and deliver costumes for the entire cast, working closely with the Director, creative leadership, and the production team. This includes coordinating with the heads of Hair and Makeup to keep the production’s look cohesive and on budget.
Responsibilities:
Design and planning
• Attend all production meetings where costume considerations are discussed, and review
production resources so the costume aesthetic fits the other design elements.
• Consult with creative leadership and the production team to align the design with
production goals.
• Make sure design proposals are feasible within the budget for sourcing, renting, buying,
and sewing time.
• Provide draft designs to the Director and Client for approval by April 1, 2027.
Building, sourcing, and budget
• Create, rent, or purchase costumes for the entire cast, including any shipping
arrangements.
• Deliver all costume, hair, wig, and makeup needs on budget. No expenditures beyond
the provided budget are authorized without prior approval from the Managing Director.
• Report any budget concerns to the Managing Director immediately.
Fittings and records
• Collect and maintain accurate costume size information for all relevant performers in
Google Drive.
• Schedule fittings between August 1 and 11, 2027 with Stage Management. Fittings for
Canadian Actor’s Equity Association members must take place within their allotted hours
of weekly call time.
• Provide a costume plot to Stage Management by August 13, 2027.
Tech week wardrobe support
• Make sure all costumes are loaded into the dressing rooms and steamed.
• Attend the Piano Dress rehearsal on Tuesday, August 17 at 1:00 pm and make any
needed adjustments before the final Dress rehearsal on Wednesday, August 18.
• Manage any costume care as needed.
Ownership
• All costumes created or purchased under this contract remain the property of Opera
Kelowna. Any further use beyond this production will include design credit as applicable.
Working Practices
• Use wardrobe@operakelowna.com for all communications.
• File paperwork in the appropriate Google Drive spaces so the team can collaborate
effectively.
• Use Trello board for project communication beyond email and text.
• Follow Opera Kelowna’s policy manual for a respectful and safe workspace.
Qualifications:
Opera Kelowna is an anti-racist and inclusive organization. We encourage experienced costume designers from all backgrounds to apply.
How to Apply:
Please submit your application and samples of work to operations@operakelowna.com by October 30, 2026 with subject line “[YOUR NAME] Costume Designer Application”.
For questions regarding this role, please contact managingdirector@operakelowna.com
Remuneration:
Negotiable, based on experience
