Noms open for 2018 Australia Council Awards and National Indigenous Arts Awards

Australia Council for the Arts has opened nominations for its two high-profile national arts awards.

Next year’s instalment of The Australia Council Awards will once again recognise the country’s most celebrated artists across music, literature, emerging and experimental arts, visual arts, theatre, dance, and community arts and cultural development.

The highly respected National Indigenous Arts Awards will honour both established and emerging First Nation artists. Recipients are decided by a national panel of Indigenous arts peers.

“We recognise the power of the arts to challenge, provoke, and inspire,” said Rupert Myer AO, Australia Council Chair. “These awards are a way of acknowledging the role artists play in shaping Australia’s cultural identity.”

The Red Ochre Award for lifetime achievement boasts a decorated list of alumni, and for the first time in 2017 two were awarded, recognising Torres Strait Islander Dr Ken Thaiday Senior, and Indigenous theatre and film director, Lynette Narkle.

The Dreaming Award for emerging artists (aged 18-26) has supported impressive young Indigenous artists to create a major body of work through mentoring and partnerships. The 2017 recipient was Ancestress / Teila Watson.

"These awards honour artists who are central to Australia’s international reputation for excellent artistic practice, fearless experimentation and rich storytelling traditions,” Myer added.

Nominations for both the Australia Council Awards and the National Indigenous Arts Awards close on October 3.

Artists cannot self-nominate and must be formally put forward by another individual or organisation.