Australia
Priya Srinivasan and Others Honored with Asia Pacific Arts Awards. Creative Australia presented the inaugural Asia Pacific Arts Awards, recognizing artists, collectives, and organizations actively involved in creating and sharing cultural works across the Asia Pacific region. The recipients, including Priya Srinivasan, were announced during a ceremony held at Paramatta’s Riverside Theatres on April 23. The event celebrated the rich diversity of culture, art, and cuisine from across the region.
Dr. Priya Srinivasan, a thought leader, performer, choreographer, and writer, was among the distinguished recipients. Leading Sangam, a transformative cultural platform addressing inequity in the arts in Naarm. Srinivasan has propelled the platform since 2019, showcasing over 300 South Asian creatives, emphasizing self-representation and artistic excellence. Her work, deeply rooted in Indian classical dance, focuses on feminist decolonization and sheds light on the histories of minority women.
Srinivasan’s groundbreaking intercultural pieces have graced stages worldwide, from the USA, China, Europe, India to Australia. Notable works like “The Durga Chronicles” (Green Room Award Winner) and “Agam” at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra have reshaped Australian contemporary practice. Srinivasan also directs innovative projects like “Serpent Dreaming Women,” “Churning Waters,” and “Bunyi Bunyi Bumi,” fostering equitable intercultural collaborations between First Nations and Asian Australians.
The awards event, held for the first time by Creative Australia as part of the Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy Revive initiative, honored recipients across various categories:
Priya Srinivasan (Impact)
Srinivasan’s work, rooted in Indian classical dance, spotlights the experiences of women from minority communities and fosters innovative collaborations between First Nations and Asian Australians.
Hyphenated Projects (Innovation)
Situated in a suburban house in Sunshine West, Hyphenated Projects supports artists operating across cultural, social, and geographic boundaries, offering artist residency and development programs.
Club Até (Inspire – Individuals/Collectives/Groups)
Club Ate, comprising Justin Shoulder and Bhenji Ra, collaborates with members of the queer Asia Pacific diaspora in Australia and across Oceania through video, performance, events, and activations.
QAGOMA, Asia Pacific Triennial APT 10 (Inspire – Organizations)
QAGOMA’s 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT10) showcased 69 projects by over 150 artists from over 30 countries.
OzAsia Festival, 2021–2023 (Connect)
Under Artistic Director Annette Shun Wah’s leadership, OzAsia Festival amplified Asian and Asian Australian artists and experiences, centralizing these voices in festival programming.
Minister for the Arts Tony Burke emphasized, “Engagement with our region isn’t only about physical trade in goods. It’s also about sharing our creativity with the region, engaging with creators throughout the region, and most importantly, creating new work together.”
Creative Australia CEO Adrian Collette AM added, “To the many incredible diaspora artists and others engaging with the region, both within Australia and internationally – we see you. We recognize and celebrate the people and organizations that have worked to deepen connections between Australia and regional neighbors through the power of their creative practice.”
