Open Section - Competition Rules​

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Entry requirements

• Entrants to the Open Section must be 18 years OR employed, a registered volunteer,  an enrolled TAFE /Community College student (entrants under 18 years should be accompanied by an adult for the Gala Night).

• Entries can be made by individuals under their own names OR as named Teams with a delegated representative/contact.

• Designers must choose from one of the following four themes*:

  • Jurassic World

  • Myths and Legends

  • Trash and Treasure

  • The Elements

• Entries must include

  •  significant amount of recycled/upcycled material, emphasising sustainability and

          creativity, and

• be illuminated by integrated lights and/or external lighting effects

• No obvious or dominant trademarks, logos or brand names can be used in an entry.

• All entrants should complete the Photo and Video Consent Form. (Under 18yrs need a parent or guardian signature).

Entry and Judging process

• Open Section Participants should firstly submit the online Open Section Registration Form by Monday 18th May at the latest. So that we know how many entries there will be.

• Garment Registrations should then be submitted on the online form by Tuesday 2nd June (unless by arrangement). A link will be sent to you when you register online.

• At the time of Garment Registration, entrants are required to submit Design Sketches or Photographs depicting the final garment. Design Sketches/Photos must include details of materials to be used, proposed dimensions and lighting systems.

• Each garment must have its own model provided by the entrant. (Unless by arrangement)

• Each Garment Registration should be accompanied by an Artist’s Statement (no more than 150 words) indicating how your garment relates to the theme and how your choice of materials for your garment makes it sustainable or low impact on the environment.

• The Design Sketches and Artist’s Statements will be assessed in the judging process.

• Technical and Dress rehearsals will take place on Thursday 18th June at the Star Court Theatre. 

• Judging of the Open Section will take place during dress rehearsals.Times and details to be advised.

Garment safety

• The garment must be safe and comfortable for a model to move and perform in over several wearings, including strong comfortable footwear.

• Models must be able to see clearly and breathe easily while wearing the garment.

• Garment weight must be evenly distributed over the body.

• LnUp will not accept the following components for safety reasons: stilts, roller skates or roller blades, any hard materials such as glass, ceramics, plastic, metal with raw unprotected edges. Please AVOID glitter (plastic) and staples.

• Entries are not permitted to use real animal fur.

Garments height & width restrictions

• When worn by an adult model, the garment must be easily able to enter and exit the stage via a 1.5m wide x 2m high doorway (you can duck)

• Models in costume will be required to walk up several short flights of stairs.

• Once onstage, the garment may extend or expand in size but must be able to retract and exit the stage in line with the entry and exit size restrictions specified above.

Garment delivery, storage, ownership & responsibility

• Garments will be stored before and after rehearsal, and prior to the event in a secure place in the Star Court arcade or nearby.

• Entrants from outside the region should contact LightnUp to arrange delivery prior to the event.

Please note delivery is at entrants’ own cost

• The designer retains ownership of any garment submitted to LightnUp/Heart Light Competition.

• LightnUp will not be liable for any damage or loss caused as a result of events outside its reasonable control.

Original creation

• It is a requirement that a designer’s garment is an original creation and must comply with Copyright and Trademark Guidelines (does not infringe, or pose a risk of infringing, the intellectual property rights of any third party). No minions please!

Judging Process

• Judging of the Open category will be undertaken by a panel of independent judges at the dress rehearsal on Thursday18th June 2026

• Winners will be announced at the end of the Gala Catwalk Parade that night.