Creative Australia is pleased to invite nominations for senior First Nations artists and cultural workers with thirty or more years of continued artistic practice for the 2027 Red Ochre Awards.

Red Ochre Awards nominations are open across two categories:

• Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Artistic Excellence: Two awards valued at $60,000 for outstanding lifetime achievement in artistic practice for a senior Australian First Nations artist.
• Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cultural Advocacy and Leadership: Two awards valued at $60,000 for outstanding lifetime achievement in cultural advocacy and leadership for a senior Australian First Nations arts leader or arts and cultural worker.

We are seeking nominations from individuals, arts and community organisations. The recipient will be presented with the Award at the First Nations Arts and Culture Awards ceremony to be held on Thursday 27 May 2027.

About the Red Ochre Awards

The prestigious Red Ochre Award was established by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board in 1993 to pay tribute to senior Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals for their outstanding lifetime achievements and contributions in the arts, recognised both nationally and internationally with thirty or more years of continued artistic practice.

The Red Ochre Award recognises:

• lifetime contribution to First Nations arts and culture nationally and internationally
• lifetime contribution to the First Nations community
• lifetime achievement in arts practice and cultural advocacy and leadership.

About the First Nations Arts and Culture Awards

The Awards are held each year on 27 May the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and the opening of National Reconciliation Week, to honour First Nations excellence and the outstanding contributions of First Nations artists, arts workers and entrepreneurs to their practice, culture, and community.

The Awards are assessed by an independent panel of First Nations Industry Advisors, with the Red Ochre Awards determined by the Creative Australia’s First Nations Board.

The Award categories are:

• the prestigious Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Artistic Excellence for senior artists
• the prestigious Red Ochre Awards for Lifetime Achievement in Cultural Advocacy and Leadership for senior artists
• the Established Artist of the Year Award to recognise outstanding achievement in artistic practice of an established First Nations artists
• the Youth Award for Achievement in the Arts, to recognise the achievement of First Nations artists or arts workers between the age of 18 and 35
• the First Nations Arts and Culture Business Innovation Award, to recognise innovation and excellence in entrepreneurship among First Nations small to medium arts and culture businesses and community organisations (including Art Centres) nationwide.

Please note: the First Nations Arts Fellowship, supporting the creation of a major work by two artists, will be receiving an Award at the event in celebration of their achievements.