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Performing Arts Connections Australia’s annual awards which celebrate best practice and innovation in performing arts are to be renamed the Impact Awards to reflect the impact Performing Arts Centres have in their local communities.

PAC Australia is the national peak body representing and supporting performing arts presenters, venues, producers and creators in Australia by providing leadership, building capacity and facilitating relationships that strengthen the connection between the art and the audience.

PAC Australia has presented the awards, previously known as the Drover Awards, since 2003. From the 2022 ceremony, which will be presented at the Australian Performing Arts Exchange (APAX) in September, the awards will be known as the Impact Awards.

The name change comes with a new approach and guidelines designed to open up the awards to reward excellence beyond touring. The awards will celebrate performing arts leadership, new thinking and best practice, with a focus on lasting impact in communities. Up to eight awards will be bestowed each year.

PAC Australia Executive Director, Katherine Connor notes “placing too much structure around award categories is counter to what we’re hoping to achieve. By removing specific categories and the criteria that sits within them, we hope to encourage and reward the change-makers. While there is always room and a need for criteria for certain processes, we have decided that, for our awards, these kinds of structures limit, not reward, best practice.”

Connor continues “at the heart of our new awards will, of course, be the continued recognition of our members contributions to the sector and to their communities. We want to celebrate the impact Performing Arts Centres have in their local communities. They do so much more than present touring productions, often producing local stories and special events responding to their communities needs.”

From 2022, the highest achievement in the awards will now be known as the Wendy Blacklock Industry Legend Award, formally known as Touring Legend, and will reward exceptional, long-time service to the performing arts industry, not limited to touring. This Award honours the illustrious career and the services of Wendy Blacklock AM, who was a pioneer of national touring and founder of Performing Lines.

Nominations for PAC Australia’s Impact Awards are now open and must close 8th August, 2022 at 11.59pm. The Awards Ceremony will be hosted at the Yallamundi Room, Sydney Opera House as part of the Australian Performing Arts Exchange (APAX) on 5th September 2022.

Discover more at paca.org.au/impact-awards/about/

Images: Linda Christof of the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre at the PAC 2019 Awards (top) and PAC 2017 Award winner Rachel Maza of the ILBIJERRI Theatre (below).

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