New awards celebrate Australian Arts in Asia

Australia's Arts Minister Tony Burke has announced new awards to celebrate the important role Australian artists and arts organisations play in enhancing the country's relationship with Asian countries.

The Australian Arts in Asia Awards open for applications on 17 June and will recognise, celebrate and promote the significant number of Australian artists engaging in Asia, contributing to stronger, deeper and broader cultural links with Asian nations.

Australian artists, arts organisations and collecting institutions that have engaged in Asia between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2013 are eligible to nominate themselves for the awards. The nominated project must have been performed, exhibited, toured, produced or developed in an Asian country or with an Asian partner during this time.

"The engagement in Asia isn't simply an exposition of Australian creativity. The work of our artists is being affected by Asia just as artists who have moved here from parts of Asia are seeing their art affected by Australia," Mr Burke said.

"This artistic influence is now at the cutting edge of much of Australian creativity.

"On my recent trip to China and India, I was impressed by the range of Australian artists and arts organisations working there in strong collaborative partnerships with Asian arts organisations.

"The Sydney Symphony Orchestra for example, is working with China's National Centre for the Performing Arts and the National Library of Australia with the National Library of China.

"I was also impressed by the number of Australian film makers exploring new creative opportunities with their Indian and Chinese counterparts.

"These are just some examples of the cultural links Australian artists are establishing in Asia, and they are the sorts of initiatives the Australian Arts in Asia Awards will recognise."

Awards will be presented in 14 categories: partnerships, philanthropy, Indigenous, community engagement, innovation, individual artist, small to medium arts organisations, major arts organisations, visual art, literature, theatre, music, and digital and film.

Winners of the awards will form a showcase, promoting the value of engaging with Asia and encouraging other Australian artists to engage in Asia.

The Awards will help promote the Australian Government's commitment in Creative Australia, the national cultural policy, to the increasing engagement of artists and arts organisations in cultural exchanges and to build collaborative partnerships with their international counterparts.

Nominations open Monday 17 June 2013 and close at 5pm Sunday 30 June 2013.

Award guidelines and nomination forms are available at www.arts.gov.au/asiaawards.