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Creative Australia announces 2025 First Nations Arts and Culture Awards winners

Phoebe Blogg - May 28, 2025

Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, The Conservatorium of Music. (Image: Stefanie Zingsheim/ University of Sydney)

Creative Australia has announced the recipients of the 2025 First Nations Arts and Culture Awards.

Unveiled at a ceremony at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on Wednesday, the 2025 recipients include soprano Prof Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO, celebrated poet and activist Lionel Fogarty, leading First Nations musician and educator Dr Shelley Morris AO, and cultural arts champion Lily Shearer - all recognised with the prestigious Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Held yearly on the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and the opening of National Reconciliation Week, the awards honour First Nations excellence and the outstanding contributions of First Nations artists to arts, culture, and community.

2025 also marked the expansion of the awards, with the introduction of three new categories introduced to reflect the growing diversity of First Nations arts leadership across generations and industries.

*Celebrated poet and activist Lionel Fogarty. (Image: Creative Australia)*

*Deaf Yolŋu filmmaker and artist, Gutingarra Yunupingu. (Image: Creative Australia)*

Gutingarra Yunupingu received the Youth Award for Achievement in the Arts, while Tony Albert was awarded Established Artist of the Year Award. Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre was honoured with the First Nations Arts & Culture Business Innovation Award.

Also acknowledged at the awards were the two recipients of 2025 First Nations Fellowships, including performing arts trailblazer, Ben Graetz and singer/songwriter and music producer, Candice Lorrae.

*Artist Tony Albert. (Image: Creative Australia)*

Executive director First Nations Arts and Culture, Franchesca Cubillo said the 2025 award recipients represent the strength, depth and diversity of First Nations creative practices across the country.

"These First Nations individuals and organisations represent the strength, depth and diversity of First Nations creative practices across the country. We take this moment to congratulate and celebrate these remarkable artists and thank them for leading the way for future generations," she said.

This year the awards were assessed by an independent panel of First Nations Industry Advisors, with the Red Ochre Awards determined by the Creative Australia First Nations Board. All recipients were nominated by peers and colleagues from across the country.

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