The United Stages Collective, the first First Nations Australian creative collective based in the United States, has proudly celebrated the recognition of its co-founder, Sam Cook, who was honoured at the recent prestigious Australian Theatre Festival NYC Spring Gala.
Held May 6 at the historic Players on Gramercy Park, the annual Gala spotlighted leading Australian talent in the arts. Among the evening's key honours was Arts Leadership Honoree: Ms Cook, a proud Nyikina woman whose groundbreaking contributions have amplified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices on the global stage.
A multi-award-winning creative and trailblazer, Ms Cook is based in Los Angeles where she serves as the US Member Representative for APRA AMCOS. She co-founded United Stages Collective and Australian Made USA alongside Garry Gary Beers (INXS), and is also a non-founding member of Artivist Entertainment, collaborating with Grammy-nominated artists including Aloe Blacc.
Her work spans the globe — from directing The Dreaming Festival and programming Woodford Folk Festival, to producing the historic Grand Opening of LA's Sixth Street Bridge. Her global touring and production credits include the UK, Canada, Brazil, Ethiopia, India and Aotearoa (NZ).
An accomplished playwright, screenwriter, publisher, designer and former CEO of Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, Ms Cook also founded KMBA Creative and Honey Ant Press, and has worked with Magabala Books, the respected Aboriginal publishing house.
United Stages Collective celebrated this recognition as "a milestone moment for First Nations representation in the international arts sector", a spokesperson for the Collective said.
"This honour is not just a celebration of Sam's incredible career — it's a moment for all Aboriginal creatives to see themselves represented at the highest levels of leadership in the arts," they said.
"Sam's journey, from Broome to Broadway and beyond, is a testament to the strength, vision, and impact of Blak women in the creative industries."
Now in its sixth year, the Australian Theatre Festival NYC is the only festival in the United States dedicated to showcasing Australian performing arts. Co-founded in 2019 by Mark Barford, Connor Delves, and Jillian Geurts, the Festival champions cultural exchange and opportunities for Australian artists abroad through performances, awards, and annual events in New York City.