First Nations Arts Awards 2022
Nominations are now open
Nominations are now open for The Red Ochre Award for lifetime achievement, The Dreaming Award and the First Nations Emerging Career Development Award. All three categories close on Tuesday 12 October.
The First Nations Arts Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding work and achievements of First Nations artists. They are held annually on 27 May marking the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum.
The Red Ochre Award (Lifetime Achievement)
The prestigious Red Ochre Award was established by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board in 1993 to pay tribute to a senior Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person for their outstanding lifetime achievement in the arts and their contribution to the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, both nationally and internationally.
The Red Ochre Award now includes recognition of both an outstanding senior male artist and an outstanding senior female artist. Nominations for senior artists are accepted from arts and community organisations and individuals. Senior artists may not nominate themselves and nominations may only be made for a living artist. Awards will not be given posthumously.
The Red Ochre Awards for lifetime achievement will be presented at the First Nations Arts Awards.
The Dreaming Award
The Dreaming Award was established in 2012 to support an inspirational young First Nations artist aged 18-30 years to create a major body of work through mentoring and partnerships. The mentor/partner will be another established professional artist or partner nominated by the artist who will guide and mentor the applicant to assist in the development of a new work.
The First Nations Arts Strategy Panel will be awarding two Dreaming Awards, the recipients of this award will be presented at the 2022 First Nations Arts Awards.
First Nations Emerging Career Development Award
The First Nations Emerging Career Development Award was established in 2019 through the generous contributions from staff and board as part of the Australia Council’s Workplace Giving scheme.
The First Nations Emerging Career Development Award is open to Australian First Nations artists between 18-30 years old, living in Australia or overseas to pursue their professional development. This unique opportunity is available to artists and arts workers in all disciplines including dance, literature, poetry, visual arts, theatre, music and community arts.
The successful applicant’s will be announced at an event hosted by the CEO and the Workplace Giving staff contributors.