Distinguished WA artists honoured at State Cultural Treasures Awards 2022
Distinguished Western Australian artists have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to the WA arts sector and community at the State Cultural Treasures Awards in Perth.
The ceremony, which took place at the Government House Ballroom on 7 December, also saw 1 organisation recognised for its impact on the community.
Among those honoured was writer Kim Scott, a descendent of the Wirtomin Noongar people, who grew up near Kinjarling/Albany. One of Australia's greatest writers, Kim is a gifted educator and has dedicated himself to reclaiming Noongar culture and language. He was named the inaugural Western Australian of the Year in 2012 and inducted into the Western Australian Writers Hall of Fame in 2020.
The Nannup Music Festival organisation was honoured for its community impact. The festival has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 1990 and is now an annual four-day event that deeply enriches the WA music community.
The other 2022 award recipients honoured were:
- Chris Hill for Design
- Ernie Dingo AM for Theatre and Film
- Helen Matthews for Music
- Helicopter Tjungurrayi for Visual Arts
- Terri Charlesworth OAM for Dance
- Wayne Jowandi Barker for Community Impact (Individual).
The first ever State Cultural Treasures Awards (formerly State Living Treasures Awards) took place in 1998 to honour senior WA artists who had made a contribution to their art form and their community. The awards have been presented in 1998, 2004 and 2015.