Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was one of two artists granted Australia Council fellowships today, as a part of the Fifth National Indigenous Arts Awards, held at the Sydney Opera House.
The other fellowship went to visual artist/curator/writer Jenny Fraser, currently working on "non-linear" documentary Midden.
The $50,000 Red Ochre Award was presented to Warren H Williams - the Western Aranda country musician was recognised for his "outstanding contribution to the Indigenous arts".
The Council's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Arts Board also presented the inaugural $20,000 Dreaming Award, for a young emerging Indigenous artist. The Dreaming was won by Western Sydney playwright Nakkiah Lui.
Gurrumul plans to use his fellowship to create a large-scale music and surround multi-screen sensory installation that will allow audiences to "experience the land and community of the remote Elcho Island".
