Virtual NIMAs gets a date, nominations close soon

The National Indigenous Music Awards will make lemonade out of lemons amid the current global COVID-19 pandemic.

Hosted across TV, radio and online, this year’s NIMAs on August 8 is said to be Australia’s biggest virtual celebration of Australian First Nations talent. Ensuring Australians nationwide can join in, NITV has joined radio and online partners for the celebration.

The vision for the new-look 2020 NIMAs is the brainchild of new NIMAs Creative Director, Ben Graetz.

Graetz has served as Artistic Director of the Darwin Pride Festival, Garrmalang Festival and Arafura Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies. He is a fierce advocate for the First Nations, disability, LGBTIQA+ and arts communities.

“The NIMAs star has shone brightly for seventeen years and far from dimming that light, COVID has emboldened us to re-imagine what the event can be,” said Creative Director Ben Graetz.

“At its heart, the NIMAs is about celebrating our culture and music’s important place within it and we think that being forced to let go of the constraints of location will enable us to reach even more people and create an even bigger welcome mat for Australians to experience and celebrate First Nations music.”

National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) 2019 in Darwin

Nominations for this year’s awards close this Friday (May 29). All songs and albums released before May 31
by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people eligible.

Meanwhile, all artists who have appeared in the weekly National Indigenous Music Chart will also be automatically nominated for the awards.

NITV Channel Manager, Tanya Denning-Orman added:

‘”I am delighted to continue the NITV tradition of broadcasting the National Indigenous Music Awards. NITV is committed to celebrating Indigenous musicians from all over Australia. Music has always been a strong part of our people’s Cultures.”

To nominate yourself or another artist, visit https://nima.musicnt.com.au/nominate/

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