# Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards

The Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards were created in 1984 by the trustees of the Sidney Myer Fund to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Sidney Myer and ran for 40 years up to and including 2023. The awards were created to commemorate Sidney Myer's life and his love for the arts. They were intended primarily to recognise and reward outstanding achievements in dance, drama, comedy, music, opera, circus and puppetry.
In their final iteration, there was one Individual Award (A$60,000), one Group Award (A$90,000) and one Facilitator's Prize (A$25,000).
The Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards were announced and presented early each year for the preceding year. The awards were decided on a national basis and each nomination was considered by a judging committee. While past achievement was recognised, consideration was also given to the potential of an individual or group to continue their contribution to Australian society through the performing arts into the future.

## Awards

| Year | Individual Award | Group Award | Facilitator's Prize |
| 2023 | Jane Harrison | Lucy Guerin Inc | Collette Brennan |
| 2022 | Eryn Jean Norvill | Marrugeku | Deirdre O'Brien |
| 2021 | Clare Watson, James Berlyn, Jenny M Thomas | All the Queens Men, Blakdance, Speak Percussion | Australian Digital Concert Hall, Erin Milne |
| 2020 | Kylie Bracknell [Kaarljilba Kaardn], Sally Chance, Robin Fox | Metro Arts, Second Echo Ensemble, The Street Theatre | Andrew Ford, Sean Pardy |
| 2019 | Barrie Kosky | Ensemble Offspring | Richard Watts |
| 2018 | Genevieve Lacey | Bleach* Festival | Annette Downs |
| 2017 | Kate Mulvany | Dancenorth | Nicole Beyer |
| 2016 | Gavin Webber | Australian Theatre for Young People | Kathy Burns |
| 2015 | Ursula Yovich | MOFO and DARK MOFO | Daniel Clarke |
| 2014 | Lally Katz | The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra | Helen Marcou and Quincy McLean |
| 2013 | Daniel Keene and Elena Kats-Chernin | CIRCA | jointly awarded to Jill Morgan AM and Mohindar Dhillon |
| 2012 | Iain Grandage | Ilbijerri Theatre Company | Philip Rolfe |
| 2011 | Eddie Perfect | Windmill Theatre | Skinnyfish Music |
| 2010 | Paul Capsis | Australian Art Orchestra | John Paxinos |
| 2009 | Julie Forsyth | The Black Arm Band | Jointly awarded to Mandawuy Yunupingu and Footscray Community Arts |
| 2008 | Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter | Big hART | Paul Petran |
| 2007 | Ros Warby | Jointly awarded to The Song Company and Tasdance | Ian Scobie |
| 2006 | Nigel Jamieson | TaikOz | Bill Hauritz |
| 2005 | Benedict Andrews | Back to Back Theatre | David Bates |
| 2004 | Rod Quantock | jointly awarded to: Melbourne Workers Theatre and Tracks Dance Theatre | Lee-Ann Buckskin |
| 2003 | Stephen Page and Indigenous Individual winner Kylie Belling | Acrobat | Sarah Miller and Indigenous Facilitator's Prize Lafe Charlton |
| 2002 | Lisa Gasteen and Indigenous Individual Winner Aaron Pedersen | Urban Theatre Projects | Mary Vallentine and Indigenous Facilitator's Prize - jointly awarded to Lynette Narkle, Paul McPhail and David Milroy |
| 2001 | Paul Grabowsky and Indigenous Individual Winner David Page | Northern Rivers Performing Arts Inc | Ian Roberts (producer) and Indigenous Facilitator's Prize Richard Frankland |
| 2000 | Lucy Guerin | Leigh Warren & Dancers | Jill Smith |
| 1999 | David Pledger | Strange Fruit | Liz Jones |
| 1998 | Nick Enright | Australian Chamber Orchestra | Stephen McIntyre |
| 1997 | Robyn Nevin | Playbox Theatre | Rhoda Roberts |
| 1996 | Peter J. Wilson | Jointly awarded to Company B Belvoir and Expressions Dance Company | Wendy Blacklock AM |
| 1995 | Jointly awarded to Hannie Rayson and Paul Livingston | Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra | David Blenkinsop |
| 1994 | Michael Kieran Harvey | Legs On The Wall | |
| 1993 | Geoffrey Rush | Doppio Teatro Inc. and Bangarra Dance Theatre | Marguerite Pepper |
| 1992 | Meryl Tankard | Chrissie Parrott Dance Company | Lindy Davies |
| 1991 | Kim Walker | Jointly awarded to Synergy and Chamber Made Opera | Phillip A'Vard |
| 1990 | John Beckett | Bran Nue Day Productions | |
| 1989 | Sue Ingleton | Jointly awarded to One Extra Company and Bharatam Dance Company | Sir Rupert Hamer |
| 1988 | Neil Armfield | Salamanca Theatre Company | John Larkin |
| 1987 | Jointly awarded to Peter Wilson and Richard Bradshaw | Astra Chamber Music Society | |
| 1986 | Chris Westwood | Flederman Ensemble | |
| 1985 | Peter Oyston | Dance Works | |
| 1984 | Jack Davis | Jointly awarded to Circus Oz and Sydney Dance Company | |

## Footnotes

* 1 2 In 2020 and 2021, as a result of the damage to the arts sector brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the number of recipients was expanded to eight.