The art of awards: and the winner is…

From comedy to contemporary dance, what value are awards in the performing arts?
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Keir Choreographic Award semi-finalist Ghenoa Gela’s 2014 work, Winds of WoerrImage by Gregory Lorenzutti

In the visual arts sector, awards are commonplace, and often acquisitive, ensuring works are added to collections in addition to the artists’ receiving adulation and a cash prize. But what value do awards serve in the performing arts? And, given the subjective nature of all art, can we ever say with authority that awards are being presented to the most deserving artists?

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Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts