Creative Australia Awards announced

Martin del Amo, choreographer and dancer with 30 years of professional experience, is one of 11 leading artists to receive the 2024 Creative Australia Awards.

Del Amo is best known for his solos, fusing idiosyncratic movement and intimate storytelling, and has received acclaim more recently as a creator of group works and solos for others. Programmed by many major festivals and venues across the country, his work has toured nationally and internationally. Martin’s huge contribution to the Australian arts sector as a teacher, dramaturg, movement consultant, dance writer and mentor to emerging artists has been recognised with the prestigious Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship (2015) and the Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance (2018).

The other recipients are Amanda Brown (the Don Banks Music Award); Gail Jones (Lifetime Achievement in Literature); Amanda Cachia (National Arts & Disability Award (Established); Patrick Carter (National Arts & Disability Award (Early Career);Riana Head-Toussaint (National Arts & Disability Award (Early Career); Claudia Chidiac (Ros Bower Award for Community Arts & Cultural Development); Emmanuel Asante (Kirk Robson Award for Community Arts & Cultural Development); Megan Cope (Award for Emerging & Experimental Arts); Guan Wei (Award for Visual Arts); Andrea James (Award for Theatre). Del Almo received the Award for Dance.

Creative Australia (formerly the Australia Council for the Arts) presents the Creative Australia Awards annually. According to its website, the recipients are decided by Creative Australia's Heads of Practice who appoint three Industry Advisors who nominate up to five artists for consideration as award recipients. The Heads of Practice then shortlisted in each award category, seeking further advice from the Industry Advisors, before making a recommendation of selections to the Executive and Board. 

For the first time this year, the awards proudly include the National Arts and Disability Awards, celebrating the contributions of artists to their fields and the cultural life of the nation.  

There is no indication in the announcement as to whether this is an award of accolade only or if the recipients receive a cash amount.

Read more about del Amo here.