If you’ve seen an episode of “Project Runway” where the contestants visit a museum for inspiration, imagine that — except swap out the professional designers and judges for middle school girls designing and sewing for the first time and a roomful of supportive friends and family.

That was the scene when a dozen young designers walked the runway at the Feb. 27 A Company of Girls’ Empow{h}er fundraiser at O’Maine Studios in the Old Port.

“Tonight is a celebration of what the power of art can do for kids and how it can lift them up,” said Executive Director Jen Roe. “I’ve never seen a group of kids more excited about a project like this. The process was long, but they were so dedicated.”

Last fall, a dozen members of the after-school program went to the Portland Museum of Art and each chose three artworks that inspired them. From those reference points, they drew preliminary sketches of dresses. Next, they chose one design and turned it into something three-dimensional: Barbie clothes. Finally, they made life-size versions for themselves. When all the hems were hemmed, zippers were zipped and sashes were tied, the girls modeled their finished — or almost finished — looks at Empow{h}er’s “ACOG+: A Study in Dress as Art” show.

With no hair or makeup fussiness or any theatrical audiovisual elements of a “produced” fashion show, the vibe was charmingly simple: just creative girls having fun showing the people they love what they have created.

Lucy Chandler joyfully swished the skirts of her shimmering tea-length gown inspired by the sea spray of Winslow Homer’s “Weatherbeaten.”

Hazel Seine’s bold silver rhinestone dress with handheld antler accessory is a dead ringer for Marc Swanson’s 2013 sculpture “Untitled (Hooking Buck Head Down).”

And, despite it being billed as a “dress project,” Phoebe Tran started cutting a pattern for a comfortable pair of patched overalls inspired by a coastal scene by 19th century oil painter Alfred Thompson Bricher.

“I love that the organizers told her to go for it,” said her father, Phuc Tran. “We’re excited for her to do things that expand the definition of what it means to be a girl or a young woman in this world, and I think ACOG does that.”

Jackie Nankunda, originally from Rwanda, said she had been here only a year when her daughter Ayana Akeza joined the A Company of Girls after-school program at Woodfords Church in Portland. “ACOG is a place where she does things she has never done before — a lot of firsts,” Nankunda said. “The girls learn to be more confident, more free, whatever they want to be.”

Alex Argo, whose daughter made the rhinestone deer antler accessory, said, “I love the empowerment component. ACOG gives kids a space to explore who they are at a tricky age. They cook, do art projects, and do a play every year. And it’s not just girls anymore; they’re inclusive to nonbinary kids.”

Empow{h}er highlighted the culinary, visual and performing arts facets of A Company of Girls’ after-school program, with hors d’oeuvres and desserts prepared and served by students.

With 11 corporate sponsors, a wine pull, a silent auction and a sale of student art, the event raised more than $20,000 to fund the 25-year-old nonprofit’s arts-based after-school and outreach programs.

Amy Paradysz is a freelance writer and photographer based in Scarborough. She can be reached at amyparadysz@gmail.com.