Australian Women in Music Awards ready to celebrate
The Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA) and Conference promises a stellar celebration of women in music in Brisbane this May.
The event will feature a conference at Hotel X on Tuesday May 17th, which includes a film screening and a key note ‘in conversation’ with Tina Arena and Yumi Stynes.
The awards ceremony at the Tivoli on Wednesday May 18th will feature a stellar lineup of performances across classical, pop, rock and legends like Tina Arena, while the inaugural Queensland First Nations Women’s Hip Hop showcase on May 17th will feature performances by Dizzy Doolan, Hot Brown Honey, Kaylah Truth, Kween G, Lady Lash, Red Belly and Shakaya.
Other artists performing this year include Emma Donovan & Kee àhn, BARKAA & Dizzy Doolan, Sahara Beck, Sandy Evans & Satsuki Odamura, Kween G & Lady Lash and Montaigne.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Women and the Prevention of Domestic Violence Shannon Fentiman welcomed the return of the awards to an in-person event.
“Queensland is home to so many incredible women musicians, and it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate their achievments after what has been an extremely challenging past couple of years for the industry,” Minister Fentiman said.
“These awards will recognise the talents of women from across the country who are inspiring young girls everywhere to follow their passion in music.
Minister Fentiman said AWMA plays an important role providing visiblity to the challenges facing women in the Australian music industry, and help to create more opportunities for Australian women in music, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.
“The First Nations and remote community focus of this year’s program is particularly exciting as it will provide some fantastic development and exposure opportunities for emerging female talent,” she said.
“We still have a way to go when it comes to achieving gender equity and diversity but it’s events like these which provide a stage for these important conversations to happen.”
The third instalment of the event, AWMA was initially planned for October 2020, and pushed back to October 2021 due to the pandemic before being postponed again until May.
AWMA’s Founding Executive Producer and Program Director Vicki Gordon said the event would mark a new high on the long path out of COVID for the music industry with the event being broadcast on ABC TV for the very first time.
“With our peers from all areas of industry, across every state including regional and remote communities, AWMA provides a unique opportunity for us to come together to acknowledge the value and contributions of women in music and celebrate the significant shift we have achieved in such a short time,” she said.
Gordon said the #MeToo movement became a lighting rod focus in the Australian landscape when a new generation of women, such as Jaguar Jonze and Tamara Georgopoulos, loudly voiced their call to end the toxic culture in the Australian music industry.
“We owe them both a great debt,” she said, “but for now it’s time to get back on the stage, to celebrate our achievements and party.”
Australian Women in Music Awards 2022
Ceremony and Awards tickets on sale now via Ticketmaster.
The AWMA Conference on May 17 at Hotel X will include a film screening and a key note ‘in conversation’ with Tina Arena and Yumi Stynes. Tickets on sale via eventbrite.
The inaugural Queensland First Nations Women’s Hip Hop showcase Love For My Sisters, curated by Dizzy Doolan, will premier on the evening of May 17 at the Tivoli. Tickets on sale via Ticketmaster.
This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.