The 13th annual Ruby Awards were held on Saturday December 1, 2018 at the Queen's Theatre in Adelaide.

The judging panel comprised eight key industry and media figures:

  • Adelaide Fringe CEO and Director Heather Croall
  • Adelaide Festival Co-Artistic Director Rachel Healy
  • South Australian Museum Director, Brian Oldman
  • ACE Open CEO, Liz Nowell
  • Artist Gavin Wanganeen
  • President of Recitals Australia, Mark de Raad
  • Channel Seven News presenter, Jane Doyle
  • The Advertiser Arts and Entertainment Editor, Jillian Attrill.

The 2018 Ruby Award categories and winners were as follows.

Best Festival

For the best festival of the year.
Winner: Adelaide Fringe 2018

Best Work or Event Within a Festival

For the best performance, work, production or event of the year presented as part of a festival program.
Winner: Hamlet – Adelaide Festival and Glyndebourne Festival Opera (Adelaide Festival 2018)

Best Work or Event Outside a Festival

For the best performance, work, production or event of the year not presented as part of a festival program.
Winner: Beep – Windmill Theatre Co

Best Work, Event or Project for Young People

For the best performance, work, production, event or initiative of the year aimed specifically at young people.
Winner: Ngarrindjeri Yanun – Carclew Youth Arts

Best Regional or Community Event or Project

For the best artistic or cultural event, project or initiative of the year that had a significant positive impact on a community or region in South Australia.
Winner: AREA 53 – D’Faces of Youth Arts

Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation or Group

Recognising outstanding achievement or contribution by a small to medium arts organisation or group receiving no funding, or less than $1 million in funding, from Arts South Australia.
Winner: Vitalstatistix

Made in Adelaide Award

For outstanding artistic or cultural achievement outside of South Australia by a South Australian individual, company or organisation.
Winner: Backbone and A Simple Space – Gravity & Other Myths

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Award or Stevie Gadlabarti Goldsmith Memorial Award

Recognising outstanding achievement or contribution by an ATSI focused organisation or group, or an ATSI identified individual working in any area of the arts.
Winner: Major Moogy Sumner

Frank Ford Memorial Young Achiever Award

Recognising outstanding achievement or contribution by an individual aged under 35, working in any area of the arts.
Winner: Nicholas Carter, Principal Conductor, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra

People’s Choice Award

Winner of the online People’s Choice vote, chosen from all finalists.
Winner: True North Youth Theatre Ensemble

Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Award

Recognising an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to community cultural development.
Winner: Nick O’Connor, Director, Northern Sound System

Premier’s Award for Lifetime Achievement

Recognising an individual who has made a remarkable, long-standing contribution to arts and culture.
Winner: Alison Milyika Carroll