Presentation of PAC Australia’s Impact Awards recognise excellence in performing arts leadership

The Art House Wyong venue has been named as the Performing Arts Centre of the Year Award at the 2022 PAC Australia Impact Awards.

Presented on Monday evening at the Sydney Opera House, the awards ceremony also saw the Gold Coast’s HOTA, Home of the Arts and Arts on Tour share the 2022 Innovator Award and the late David Lloyd recognised for his dedication to the support of contemporary performing arts practice.

Rebranded this year as the Impact Awards, the annual awards, previously known as the Drover Awards, celebrate performing arts leadership, best practice and new thinking, with a focus on lasting impact in communities.

Among the eight awards bestowed across four categories at the national event, the highest achievement in the awards, the Wendy Blacklock Industry Legend Award - honouring the career and services of Wendy Blacklock AM, a pioneer of national touring and founder of Performing Lines - was presented to Stephen Page AO, Artistic Director of Bangarra.

The Art House Wyong’s award recognised its contribution to the cultural transformation of the Central Coast region and is leading the way a new, regional performing arts centre can operate under an independent business model and achieving high audience engagement.

PAC Australia noted “the Art House has positioned itself as a venue of national significance in only six short years, in an area that didn't have an existing theatre or audience. It has made significant contributions to the community, artists, and region as a destination, through its dedication to presenting renowned live performance locally.”

HOTA, Home of the Arts’ award recognised its leadership and innovation in the development and delivery of models that support artist and sector development, particularly through their ArtKeeper program.

Arts on Tour was recognised for its leadership in promoting green touring and providing resources to the sector to support the transition to environmentally sustainable touring practices.

Arts on Tour started the Green Touring Initiative in late 2020 with the aim of providing tools and strategies to minimise emissions and work towards carbon neutral touring.

The outcomes of this Initiative, The Green Touring Toolkit and accompanying resources, and Arup's emissions calculator Circulate, were launched in 2022 and support artists and organisations to develop environmental sustainability goals both in the touring practices and across their operations.

The award to the late David Lloyd acknowledged his dedication to the support of contemporary performing arts practice particularly through the Roadwork and Blaklines consortia, his leadership of PAC Australia and VAPAC at board level and his role in the development of the Ulumbarra Theatre. His award was accepted by his daughter, Celeste Lloyd and sister, Kate Russell.

Commenting on the presentations, PAC Australia’s Executive Director, Katherine Connor stated “it was an honour to host our awards in person again, there was such a buzz of camaraderie in the room.

“To have over 200 industry professionals come together to celebrate trailblazing companies, individuals and projects - who are creating real impact in our sector and communities - was a real thrill and inspiring for all our guests”.

The Australian Performing Arts Exchange (APAX) continues until Friday 9th September at NIDA, Sydney with keynotes, panels and networking opportunities for performing arts professionals.

2022 Impact Award Winners

• 2022 Wendy Blacklock Industry Legend Award winner: Stephen Page AO

• Innovator Award 2022 winner: HOTA, Home of the Arts

• Innovator Award 2022 winner: Arts on Tour

• Performing Arts Centre of the Year Award 2022 winner: Art House Wyong

• Impact Award winner: ActNow Theatre

• Impact Award winner: CDP Theatre Producers

• Impact Award winner: Dungarri Nya Nya Ngarri Bi Nya

• Impact Award winner: David Lloyd

Click here for more information on the 2022 PAC Australia Impact Awards.

Images: Attendees at the 2022 PAC Australia Impact Awards (top), the Impact Award trophies (middle) and the late David Lloyd, recognised for his dedication to the support of contemporary performing arts practice (below). Credit: PAC Australia.