National Indigenous Music Awards to go ahead amid COVID-19

The National Indigenous Music Awards is the latest Australian awards institution to make lemonade out of lemons amid the current global COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual awards has today announced it will continue to shine a big bright light on First Nations artists in 2020 with a virtual edition of the NIMAs taking place this August.

Opening their nominations today, organisers behind the Darwin-based awards said support of First Nations artists is even more important than ever in the current climate.

Jessica Mauboy at the 2019 NIMAs in Darwin. Credit: David Hancock

“We are continuing the evolution of the NIMAs to create a platform that shines a light on Indigenous success and talent across the year, of which the awards are a key part,” said MusicNT’s Mark Smith.

This year’s NIMAs will deliver “a rich program of live music across multiple screens and the ability for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from across the country to connect with the program, the artists and each other.”

The vision for the new-look 2020 NIMAs is still to be revealed but is the brainchild of new NIMAs Creative Director, Iwaidja, Malak Malak and Badu Island man Ben Graetz.

Having served as Artistic Director of the Darwin Pride Festival, Darwin Entertainment Centre, Garrmalang Festival and Arafura Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies and having been awarded the prestigious Artist of the Year in last year’s LGBTI Australia Awards for his nationally-renowned alter-ego Miss Ellaneous, Graetz is a fierce advocate for the First Nations, disability, LGBTIQA+ and arts communities.

NIMAs Creative Director Ben Graetz said:

“The National Indigenous Music Awards are the biggest night on the calendar for First Nations musicians and it is an honour to be welcomed as its first Creative Director, albeit with a different palette than I was expecting to be painting with,” said Graetz.

“Over more than a decade, the awards have been such an important place of recognition for musicians across the country, both to celebrate successes and provide a platform for new artists to be discovered and I am excited to be taking the reigns of an event with such an important legacy, especially at this time.

“We will create an event where we can celebrate and honour our extraordinary musical community while of course listening to health advice and bringing our community together, this year virtually, to offer positivity and hope in these challenging times.”

Archie Roach and Tiddas at the 2019 NIMAs in Darwin. Credit: David Hancock

MusicNT’s Mark Smith added:

“We are working closely with Ben to restructure the NIMAs advisory committee and are welcoming new members in 2020 to ensure we have Indigenous voices from across the country advising and leading the future strategy of the event.

“We are proud to welcome Ben as our first Creative Director as we continue our path towards a NIMAs that is Indigenous-led: an event that not just amplifies Indigenous voices, but one that is determined and controlled by them.”

With nominations now open at www.indigenousmusic.com.au, this year’s NIMAs are already extra special. For the first time, all artists who have appeared in the weekly National Indigenous Chart will be automatically considered for the awards.

All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music released between July last year and June this year eligible for nominating. 

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.