The Ruby Awards honour the best of South Australia’s arts and culture sector.
Named after late arts patron, Dame Ruby Litchfield, the annual awards recognise artistic excellence, creative achievement, innovation, community involvement and inspirational leadership.
2021 proved the sector’s adaptability and resilience in the face of COVID-19. The diversity of practice that has been created since June 2020, is a testament to its strength. The 2021 Ruby Awards are a chance to recognise the artistic outcomes that have been created, and the leaders who have championed the arts, in a year like no other.
Strategic collaboration is a key value in the Arts Plan. We have witnessed an increase in collaboration as a way of working to achieve unexpected outcomes and to maximise investment. To reflect this area of focus we are introducing a new award category for Best Collaboration. This will replace the Made in Adelaide award in 2021.
2021 Ruby Award winners
Best Festival
Adelaide Film Festival
Best Work or Event Within a Festival
Art Gallery of South Australia: Clarice Beckett: The Present Moment
Best Work or Event Outside a Festival
State Theatre Company South Australia and ActNow Theatre: DECAMERON 2.0
Best Work, Event or Project for Young People
Patch Theatre: Zooom
Best Regional or Community Event or Project
Access2Arts: The HeartBeat Club
Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation or Group
Gravity & Other Myths
Best Collaboration
Slingsby Theatre Company and State Theatre Company South Australia in association with Adelaide Festival and Draiocht: The Boy Who Talked to Dogs
Stevie Gadlabarti Goldsmith Memorial Award
Lee-Ann Tjunypa Buckskin
Frank Ford Memorial Young Achiever Award
Grace Coy
Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Award
Nick Hughes
Premier’s Award for Lifetime Achievement
Pat Rix and Garry Stewart
The awards were judged by a panel including representatives from a broad cross-section of South Australian arts and culture organisations.