2023 Australia Day Honours recognise the arts

Key identities in the arts have been recognised in the 2023 Australia Day Honours list, with 68 artists and arts workers among those “honoured ‘for meritorious, distinguished and conspicuous service”.

Among more than 700 Australians recognised on the honours list, Archie Roach, a Gunditjmara (Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung) and Bundjalung singer-songwriter known as ‘Uncle Archie’ to many, has been posthumously appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

Roach, who died in July last year, had previously been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2015.

Receiving Australia’s highest honour, Roach was acknowledged for “eminent service to the performing arts as a songwriter and musician, to Indigenous rights and reconciliation, and through support for emerging First Nations artists”.

Others honoured this year musical theatre performer Chloe Dallimore; visual artist and graphic designer Tina Wilson; comedian, writer and performer Jean Kittson; actors David Wenham and Claudia Karvan; and Kalkadunga man and yidaki (didgeridoo) player, William Barton. Each were named as Members of the Order of Australia.

In events, entertainment and leisure, Anthony Bastic, Gregory Bowman and Michael Cassel were also recognised.

Bastic has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the special events industry.

He is best known as the creator (with Mary-Anne Kyriakou) of Vivid Sydney in 2009. His company, agb events, then went on to curate and produce the Vivid Light Walk for 10 years.

He produced the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2018 Invictus Games and has produced hundreds of mostly lighting and projection based events including Parrtjima – A Festival in Light. 

Commercial theatre producer Cassel of the Michael Cassel Group was also named as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "for significant service to theatre production."

Bowman has received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the tourism and hospitality industry.

Bowman is a musician and event producer whose company, Great Big Events, worked on the 2000 Sydney Olympics and has gone to run the presentations for numerous major sporting events around the world.

As a musician, Bowman has composed a number of fanfares for these medal presentations.

Click here to view the full list of Australia Day honours.

Lower image: Archie Roach (below, credit: Philip Nitchie).