Arts and culture leaders honoured with top community arts prizes

Arts Minister Peter Garrett today presented four artsworkers with awards for outstanding leadership and contribution to the advancement of community arts and culture.

The awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of Australian artists and artsworkers who work in a community arts and cultural environment in two categories: lifetime achievement and young leadership in the arts.

Australia Council for the Arts chief executive officer Kathy Keele said: ‘These awards highlight the exceptional leadership skills of Australian arts practitioners who are to creating new bridges of understanding, regeneration and opportunities within communities.’

‘I congratulate these recipients for the vital contributions they are making to enrich the lives of Indigenous, youth at risk, disability, migrant, regional and refugee communities and encourage them to take even greater steps in their careers,' Kathy Keele said.

The recipient of the 2007 Ros Bower award is:

Richard Frankland (VIC)

Richard is a respected Indigenous activist, writer, musician and filmmaker. His film and stage credits include: Who killed Malcom Smith, No way to forget, After Mabo, Harry’s war, Conversations with the dead and An evening with Richard Frankland. As an acclaimed musician, Richard’s music features on soundtracks to many of his films. He has also written, directed and produced a range of films, documentaries and stage productions and has toured nationally as a musician.

The recipients of the 2007 Young Leaders awards are:

Frances Bunji Elcoate (NT)

Frances is a multimedia artist and artsworker who has been associated with arts organisation Big hArt for the past eight-years, as a program manager and arts mentor. She has demonstrated the determination and commitment required to become a leader within the community thorough her successful arts-led programs working with young Indigenous people, young offenders and youth at risk.

Alison Richardson (NSW)

Alison has been working with young people in performing arts for more than 10-years, delivering creative programs for people with a disability, migrant and refugee communities. She has worked extensively as a director and tutor for Shopfront Theatre for Young People, PACT Theatre, Powerhouse Youth Theatre and Australian Theatre For Young People and has also worked in high schools and drama organisations.

The recipient of the 2007 Kirk Robson Award is:

(Ms) Alex Kelly (NT)

Alex is a media/arts practitioner and producer who has demonstrated innovative leadership through her arts-led work with Indigenous, regional and youth communities. Alex facilitates arts spaces and large collective projects, and is creative producer of Big hART's Ngapartji Ngapartji project in Alice Springs.

Nominations for the 2008 Ros Bower award and Kirk Robson awards close 15 June 2008. For more information see nomination form links below.

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