Artistic excellence, diversity and exceptional leadership are the consistent themes across the distinguished recipients of the 2015 Australia Council Awards.
Bringing the individual art form awards together for the first time, the 2015 Australia Council Awards ceremony paid tribute to the remarkable contributions made by 10 Australians to our arts and cultural landscape. Presented in Sydney on Thursday 19 March, these prestigious national awards combine long-standing lifetime and significant achievement awards in music, literature, community partnerships and visual arts, with new awards in theatre, dance, and emerging and experimental arts.
Australia Council Chief Executive Officer Tony Grybowski said the awards were the highest accolade the Council could bestow, and that the 2015 recipients had a depth and richness to the contributions made in their respective art forms, which embodied the kind of artistic and cultural ambition the Council is committed to supporting.
“The awards are an acknowledgement of the significant achievements and contribution an artist has made to the vibrancy of Australian arts. The 10 recipients are widely respected by their peers nationally and internationally, and these awards give us the opportunity to reflect on their considerable body of work and the impact they have had on the arts in Australia and overseas,” Mr Grybowski said.
Australia Council Chair Rupert Myer AM congratulated the recipients on this recognition. “Previous recipients include some of Australia’s most esteemed artists and I am delighted that the 2015 awards continue that tradition, celebrating individuals who capture our imagination, push boundaries and inspire new ideas.” Mr Myer said. An exhibition celebrating the winners will be at the Australia Council office in Surry Hills.
The 2015 Australia Council Award recipients are:
– Thomas Keneally (NSW) – Australia Council Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature
– Archie Roach (Vic) – Australia Council Don Banks Music Award
– Judy Watson (Qld) – Australia Council Visual Arts Award (Artist)
– Will Stubbs (NT) – Australia Council Visual Arts Award (Advocate)
– Stelarc (WA) – Australia Council Award for Outstanding Achievement in Emerging & Experimental Arts
– Garry Stewart (SA) – Australia Council Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance
– Bruce Gladwin (Vic) – Australia Council Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre
– Tony Doyle (SA) – Ros Bower Award (Community Arts and Cultural Development)
– Alyson Evans (NSW) – Kirk Robson Award (Community Arts and Cultural Development)
– Alysha Herrmann (SA) – Kirk Robson Award (Community Arts and Cultural Development)
Australia Council office
Until 8 May, 2015
Sydney
For more information on the award winners: www.australiacouncil.gov.au
Image: ®Branco Gaica. Back row: Australia Council CEO Tony Grybowski, Bruce Gladwin, Sen George Brandis, Will Stubbs, Australia Council Chair Rupert Myer; front row: Alyson Evans, Alysha Herrmann, Tony Doyle, Archie Roach, Judy Watson, Stelarc, Tom Keneally.
