Arts leaders and David Dalaithngu honoured at 2021 Ruby Awards

David Dalaithngu has been honoured at the annual Ruby Awards, for SA’s arts industry, along with two of the state’s leading figures. Here are all the winners.

Pat Rix and Garry Stewart, who both recently retired from roles with internationally renowned companies after more than two decades, have each received the Premier’s awards for Lifetime Achievement at Thursday night’s SA arts industry Ruby Awards.

Pat Rix

Garry Stewart

The ceremony, during which Premier Steven Marshall paid tribute to actor, dancer, singer and painter David Dalaithngu who died on Monday, was livestreamed from Queen’s Theatre.

Playwright and composer Rix, who was a founder of disability group Tutti Arts, retired in September after 24 years as its chief executive and artistic director.

“Pat has made an extraordinary contribution to the arts in South Australia through not only her accomplished career and significant body of work, but also through her dedication to the sector as a mentor and social change advocate,” Mr Marshall said.

Dancer and choreographer Stewart officially stepped down as Australian Dance Theatre’s creative director – a position he held for 22 years – at Saturday’s gala performance of his work G. He is now the director of Flinders University’s new Assemblage centre.

Australian Dance Theatre – G – Garry Stewart's final show Picture: Supplied

“Garry’s acclaimed career has contributed to some of Australia’s most iconic dance works and under his direction placed Australian Dance Theatre at the forefront of dance around the world – having also nurtured the careers of some of the country’s leading artists,” Mr Marshall said.

The Art Gallery of South Australia won best festival work for Clarice Beckett: The Present Moment, while the Adelaide Film Festival was named best festival.

Gravity & Other Myths was recognised with the award for outstanding contribution by an organisation or group.

A new award for best collaboration was won by Slingsby and State Theatre, in association with Adelaide Festival and Dublin venue Draiocht. Their work, The Boy Who Talked To Dogs, was an international collaboration between SA and Irish artists.

The Boy Who Talked to Dogs. Picture: Andy Rasheed

Other winners included Access2Arts’ The HeartBeat Club (best community event), State Theatre Company South Australia’s ActNow Theatre: DECAMERON 2.0 (best work outside a festival), and Zooom by Patch Theatre (best work for young people).

Restless Dance Theatre’s company manager Nick Hughes received the Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Award.

Lee-Ann Tjunypa Buckskin and Premier Steven Marshall. Picture: Supplied by SA Government

Internationally acclaimed arts and cultural leader Lee-Ann Tjunypa Buckskin was recognised for her work championing First Nations artists and storytellers with the Stevie Gadlabarti Goldsmith Memorial Award.

Grace Coy received the Frank Ford Memorial Young Achiever Award for her work on community events.