Deadline: 16-Sep-2025
Creative Australia is now inviting nominations for the 2026 First Nations Established Artist of the Year Award. This award celebrates the achievements of one First Nations artist who has demonstrated excellence in artistic practice across community arts, dance, literature, experimental arts, music, theatre, multi-arts, or visual arts, with a career spanning over ten years.
The award is part of Creative Australia’s broader First Nations First industry development initiatives. These programs have been shaped through extensive community consultation and align with Pillar 1 of the “Revive” policy, which seeks to make space for every story in the nation’s cultural landscape. The aim is to elevate existing supports and introduce new funding to strengthen First Nations leadership in the arts.
Several award categories are available. The Red Ochre Awards recognise senior First Nations artists and arts leaders for lifetime achievement in artistic excellence or cultural advocacy and leadership, each offering two awards of $60,000. The Established Artist of the Year Award grants $25,000 to an accomplished artist with over ten years of practice. The Youth Award for Achievement in the Arts also offers $25,000 to artists or arts workers aged 18 to 35. Another $25,000 is awarded through the First Nations Arts and Culture Business Innovation Award to support entrepreneurship in arts and culture organisations. In addition, two First Nations Arts Fellowships support the creation of major works.
To be eligible for the Established Artist of the Year Award, nominees must be over 18, identify as Australian First Nations, live in Australia, and have at least ten years of continuous artistic practice in one or more eligible art forms. Self-nominations are not accepted.
Nominations should be made by individuals or organisations and must include details about the nominee’s art forms, career achievements, and leadership. It is important to explain how the nominee’s work has contributed to the visibility and impact of First Nations arts in the wider community.
Nominations will be assessed based on two key criteria: merit and impact. Merit includes the nominee’s artistic excellence, the depth and consistency of their work, and their achievements within their field. Impact focuses on their contribution to the development of First Nations arts, leadership, cultural integrity, peer recognition, and promotion of diverse cultural expression.
Applications must include a CV or extended biography of the nominee (around two A4 pages or a website link), samples of their work (up to two pages of images or five minutes of audio/video), and up to four letters or statements of support. Support material should preferably be provided through accessible URLs. Links requiring login, sign-up, or payment will not be accepted, but passwords for protected files can be shared through the nomination form.
For more information, visit Creative Australia.