Academy Creates a New Branch for Costume Designers

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has created a new branch for costume designers, who previously had been part of the Designers Branch, which also includes production designers, art directors and set decorators.

Academy governor Jeffrey Kurland, the costume designer whose credits range from Bullets Over Broadway to Inception, will transfer to the newly created branch, where he will eventually be joined by two additional governors. The new branch was approved by the Academy's board of governors at its meeting on Jan. 23.

"History was made at the board of governors meeting on Wednesday night with the formation of a Costume Designers Branch," Kurland said in a statement released Friday. "Costume designers have waited a long time for recognition with branch status. As a governor representing these designers, I'm thrilled and grateful for the Academy's support."

The board also voted that the Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch, which has been represented on the board by one governor since the branch was created in 2006, will be represented by three governors going forward. Two new governors will be chosen by election later this year to join current governor Leonard Engelman, who now reps the branch.

"I'm looking forward to sharing the task of representing the Academy's makeup artists and hairstylists with two of my colleagues," Engelman said. "New governors will bring new ideas, which will help to keep the Academy's leadership strong and sharp." 

The new Costume Designers Branch governors and the two new Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch governors will bring the size of the Academy's board to 48 members, with three governors representing each of its 16 branches.   "Congratulations to our members from these essential craft areas. Movies are a visual medium and costume designers, makeup artists, and hairstylists help to create images that tell stories," Academy president Hawk Koch said.