National Leadership Award

A woman (Caroline Bowditch) speaks into a microphone on stage. She is fairly short and sits in a wheelchair. She has short red hair and her arms are outstretched as she talks.

Designed to enable artists with disabilities to succeed in their profession, the National Leadership Award aims to support new and emerging leaders in the arts and disability sector.

Evidence shows that artists with disability are less likely to find a professional career in the Arts in comparison to artists without disability, and if they do, they can expect to earn 42% less from their practice. (Fact Sheet: Disability and the Arts in Australia (doc, 48KB)).

The annual Award provides up to $10,000 to contribute to leadership training and professional development.

Judging is done by a panel made up of AAA personnel plus arts and disability sector representatives.

The Award is presented each year as part of the National Arts and Disability Awards, which is presented by Arts Access Australia and the Australia Council for the Arts.