8th National Indigenous Art Awards

The National Indigenous Arts Awards were established by the Australia Council’s former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board in 2007 to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. These prestigious national awards consist of the Red Ochre, the Dreaming Award and Fellowships.

Now in its eigth year, the annual awards celebrate the achievements and artistic creativity of four exceptional Indigenous artists. The awards are decided by a national panel of Indigenous arts peers consisting of leading Indigenous artists, curators and arts managers from each state and territory, including the Torres Strait Islands.

The Red Ochre Award
The prestigious Red Ochre Award has been awarded since 1993 and is a tribute to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artist whose lifetime achievements has made outstanding contributions to the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, both nationally and internationally. This year the Red Ochre, Australia’s most esteemed peer-assessed award for an Indigenous artist, will be presented to prominent artist, activist, intellectual and educator Dr Gary Foley.

The Dreaming Award
The Dreaming Award award supports a young artist aged 18–26 years to create a major body of work through mentoring and partnerships. The successful candidate is mentored in their chosen discipline by another established professional artist or by an arts institution nominated by the artist. The 2015 Dreaming Award is awarded to singer-songwriter and front man of The Medics, Kahl Wallis.

Australia Council Fellowships
Australia Council Fellowship grants provide financial support for outstanding, established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to enable them to undertake a major creative project or program in their artform. Renowned artist, curator and scholar Brenda L Croft and interdisciplinary artist Reko Rennie will each receive Fellowships to create a major project.

The Australia Council for the Arts Award Exhibition at the Rover Thomas Auditorium, Australia Council for the Arts in Sydney, displays the work of many of the National Indigenous Arts Awards recipients. These include original works by Brenda L. Croft and Reko Rennie as well as works produced by our recipients Gary Foley, including costumes and promotional material from Foley supplied by Ilbijerri Theatre and the Dreaming Award recipient Kahl Wallis audio visual exhibit. The exhibition will run until August 2015.

www.australiacouncil.gov.au

Lee-Ann Buckskin and Dr Gary Foley
Photo credit: Caroline McCredie

Brenda L. Croft, Dr Gary Foley and Kahl Wallis
Photo credit: Caroline McCredie

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