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First Nations Arts and Culture Awards

About the awards

The recipients of the 2024 First Nations Arts and Culture Awards are announced during a special gala event which is streamed on this  page.

The First Nations Arts and Culture Awards are delivered by Creative Australia each year on May 27, marking the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and the start of National Reconciliation Week. Nominations for the awards are open now.

  • The Red Ochre Award, which pays 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 culture and community, both nationally and internationally.
  • The Dreaming Award, which supports inspirational young First Nations artists aged 18-30 years to create a major body of work through mentoring and partnerships.
  • The First Nations Emerging Career Development Award, which is available to artists and arts workers in all disciplines including dance, cross-discipline arts, literature, poetry, visual arts, theatre, music and community arts.
  • The First Nations Fellowship, which supports an outstanding, established artist and arts workers’ activity and professional development for a period of up to two years.

The Dreaming Award was established in 2012 to support an inspirational young artist aged 18-30 years to create a major body of work through mentoring and partnerships. The mentor/partner will be an established professional artist or arts institution nominated by the artist.

Past award recipients include:

The prestigious Red Ochre Award was established by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board in 1993 to pay tribute to a senior male and a senior female 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.

Past award recipients include:

The First Nations Emerging Career Development Award was established in 2019 through the generous contributions of Creative Australia’s Workplace Giving scheme.

Two awards of $10,000 are given to First Nations artists or arts workers between 18 and 30 years old to fund their professional development.

This multi-artform opportunity is available to artists practicing in community arts and cultural development, dance, experimental arts, literature, multi-arts, music, theatre and/or visual arts. Past award recipients include:

Australia Council Fellowships are offered once a year and peer assessed by a panel of experts from within the relevant art form. The Fellowships, each worth $80,000 support creative activity and career development for mid-career and established artists for up to two years.
Past award recipients include:

  • Alison Milyika Carroll, Red Ochre Award – visual arts (TAS)
  • Djon Mundine OAM, Red Ochre Award – theatre (VIC)
  • Thea Anamara Perkins, The Dreaming Award – visual arts (QLD)
  • Maree Clarke, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Fellow – dance (VIC).
  • Aunty Lola Greeno, Red Ochre Award – visual arts (TAS)
  • Uncle Jack Charles, Red Ochre Award – theatre (VIC)
  • Jenna Lee, The Dreaming Award – visual arts (QLD)
  • Jacob Boehme, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Fellow – dance (VIC).
  • Mr John Mawurndjul AM, Red Ochre Award – visual arts (NT)
  • Mrs Waal-Waal Ngallametta, Red Ochre Award – visual arts (QLD)
  • Thomas E.S. Kelly, The Dreaming Award – visual arts (NSW)
  • Hetti Perkins, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Fellow  visual arts, (NT).
  • Dr Ken Thaiday Senior, Red Ochre Award – visual arts (TSI)
  • Lynette Narkle, Red Ochre Award – performing arts (WA)
  • Teila Watson, The Dreaming Award – performing arts (QLD)
  • Lisa Maza, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Fellow theater, (QLD).
  • Yvonne Koolmatrie, Red Ochre Award – visual arts (SA)
  • Corey ‘Nooky’ Webster, The Dreaming Award – visual arts (NSW)
  • Ms Vicki Couzens, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Fellow interdisciplinary arts, (VIC).
  • Dr Gary Foley, Red Ochre Award – performing arts (VIC)
  • Kahl Wallis, The Dreaming Award – music (VIC)
  • Brenda L Croft, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Fellow visual arts, (WA)
  • Reko Rennie, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Fellow visual arts, (VIC).
  • Hector Burton (deceased), (2014), The Red Ochre Award, visual arts, SA
  • Tyrone Sheather, (2014), The Dreaming Award, visual arts, NSW
  • David Gulpilil OAM, (2013), The Red Ochre Award, performing arts, NT
  • Rhonda Unrupa Dick, (2013), The Dreaming Award, visual arts, SA
  • Warren H. Williams, (2012), The Red Ochre Award, music, NT
  • Nakkiah Lui, (2012), The Dreaming Award, performing arts, NSW
  • Archie Roach, (2011), The Red Ochre Award, music, VIC
  • Michael Leslie, (2010), The Red Ochre Award, dance, WA
  • Gawirrin Gumana AO (deceased), (2009), The Red Ochre Award, visual arts, NT
  • Doris Pilkington Garimara AM (deceased), (2008), The Red Ochre Award, literature, WA
  • Tom E. Lewis, (2006), The Red Ochre Award, theatre, NT
  • Seaman Dan, (2005), The Red Ochre Award, music, TSI
  • John Bulunbulun (deceased), (2004), The Red Ochre Award, visual arts, NT
  • Jimmy Little (deceased), (2003), The Red Ochre Award, music, NSW
  • Dorothy Peters, (2002), The Red Ochre Award, literature, VIC
  • Banduk Marika, (2001), The Red Ochre Award, visual arts, NT
  • Mervyn Bishop, (2000), The Red Ochre Award, photography, NSW
  • Justine Saunders OAM (deceased), (1999), The Red Ochre Award, theatre, QLD
  • Bob Maza AM (deceased), (1998), The Red Ochre Award, theatre, TSI
  • Jimmy Chi (deceased), (1997), The Red Ochre Award, theatre, WA
  • Maureen Watson (deceased), (1996), The Red Ochre Award, performing arts, QLD
  • Rita Mills (deceased), (1995), The Red Ochre Award, music, TSI
  • Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri (deceased), (1994), The Red Ochre Award, visual arts, NT
  • Eva Johnson, (1993), The Red Ochre Award, theatre, SA,

Amount: $20,000 (each)

Applications close: 19 October 2021

Applications close at 3pm AEDT on the closing date.

The Dreaming Award recognises an inspirational young artist aged 18-30 years and supports them to create a major body of work through mentoring and partnerships, either nationally or internationally.

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Amount: $50,000 (each)

Nominations close: 19 October 2021

Nominations close at 3pm AEDT on the closing date.

The prestigious Red Ochre Award pays 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/or Torres Strait Islander arts, both nationally and internationally.

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