A centennial is one reason to celebrate. The return of a signature show is another.

Port Moody's Wearable Arts Awards will be back in the City of the Arts in 2013 after a steep drop in entries forced the cancellation of this year's event.

"We're thrilled, obviously, to be planning again for 2013," said Jane Matthews, executive director of the Port Moody Arts Centre Society. "It was a sad day when we realized when we didn't have enough entries for 2012, but with an early advance call for entries going out, we anticipate that we'll be able to reach previous levels of involvement, if not surpass them."

Slated for mid February of next year, the 2013 edition of the unique art-meets-performance festival will coincide with Port Moody's 100-year anniversary. Because of that coincidence in timing, the 2013 version of the show will have a decidedly celebratory focus.

The usual award categories will be highlighted - headdress, brassiere, complete outfit - but new awards specific to the centennial celebrations will also be in vogue.

The material of the year award will feature works in silk to highlight the themes revelry and celebration, while the colours of the year will be gold and silver.

"In the last few years, we have had specific awards and award categories for use of colour and use of material, so those are the colours and material we've highlighted for 2013," Matthews said. "The reason for those is because of the city's centennial, so we felt silver and gold adds that celebratory colour. It could be more of a historical reference to silver and gold, or however an artists wants to interpret that."

The other traditional, go-to awards include Second Life, Student, Best in Show and People's Choice, while the final centennial-specific award will bring into focus the concept of 100.

"We're thinking somebody could be as specific as using 100 of something in their garment," Matthews said. "It could be more of a conceptual reference to 100 or a centennial reference or something like that. However they interpret that, we're open to it."

This year's cancellation was the first time in more than a decade that the popular awards show was deemed a no go. When the news got out earlier this year, Matthews attributed the cancellation to a drop in international submissions brought on by high shipping rates.

"I think it was a broader realization of the impact of the economy and that certainly was the message that I think people received. It was just a real shame, Matthews said.

Despite the cancellation, those artists who applied for the 2012 event will be welcomed and encouraged to re-apply for next year's show.

"With all entries, we have to double check that they meet our basic criteria. So we will be looking at them again with the new entries. But we certainly welcome and encourage those artists to re-submit," Matthews said.

On top of securing new artists, Matthews is confident that the show can attract more sponsorship dollars as well.

"Wearable Arts will be one of many key celebrations throughout the city, and this will be part of a broader list of centennial events as well, so we are hoping to use the centennial as a launch to create some additional opportunities for sponsors to come on board."

About $6,000 in prize money will be awarded for the three form-based categories and the seven special awards during next year's show, which is scheduled for Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 at the Port Moody City Hall Galleria.

The call for entries is currently open, and a deadline has been set for Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. For more info on the call for entries, log on to www.wearableartawards.com or www.pomoarts.ca.

jkurucz@thenownews.com