2017 awards

The awards were presented by Alec Coles OBE (Chair, ICOM Australia) at the 2017 Museums and Galleries Australia National Conference dinner at Brisbane on 16 May 2017.

Press release - winners (151kB)

Briefing brochure (326kB)

Individual award

Hetti Perkins

Presented to Hetti Perkins for her outstanding contribution to museum practice and her commitment to a national and international profile for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Her expansive curatorial practice provides innovative ways to bring Indigenous art to a wider public within Australia and internationally.

Hetti Perkins testimonial (142kB)

1. Hetti Perkins with Waterbrain by Rusty Peters (2002), Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
   Image (detail): Susie Hagon

2. Alec Coles (Chair, ICOM Australia) and Toni Janke, accepting the Individual Award on
   behalf of Hetti Perkins
   Image (detail): Benny Jewell

Institution award

Campbelltown Arts Centre

Presented to the Campbelltown Arts Centre for the project With secrecy and despatch. This project marked the 200th anniversary of the Appin Massacre in NSW in 2016. With secrecy and despatch was a unique cross-cultural collaboration between the Campbelltown Arts Centre and the Canada Council for the Arts. It involved the local Dharawal community and First Nations curators Tess Allas (Australia) and David Garneau (Canada).

Campbelltown Arts Centre testimonial (137kB)

Left to right: Vernon Ah Kee (artist), Tess Allass (curator), Dale Harding (artist) and Michael Dagostino (Director, Campbelltown Arts Centre), after receiving the Institution Award from Alec Coles (Chair, ICOM Australia)
Image (detail): Benny Jewell