2023

Sylvia Neale

Sylvia Purrurle Neale is an Eastern Arrernte woman born in Mparntwe/Alice Springs. She is a grandmother and a great-grandmother. She is an artist, a writer, and an activist. WTS is absolutely thrilled, that Sylvia has won the 2023 Pam Lofts award and we would like to thank Sylvia for her art, her work and her friendship. Shared below are Sylvia’s notes from the Lofty's:

Really shock surprise
Wow Wow Wow so
blown away
accept with humility
and pride

If my words and
action is heard
to those who need to
hear it then I will have
contributed to the bigger
picture for justice
for my people

If I can encourage other mob to get involved in the arts
that would be a plus.

Justice for Palestine.
Justice for

2022

Maria Giacon & Mike Gillam

From Elliat Rich and James Young’s Lofty Announcement Speech:

Whether natured or nurtured, their ability to empathise knows no bounds and they demonstrate compassion well beyond what most would consider practical, taking on responsibility for a wide range of individuals from many species, from stray and injured animals to old River redgums. They are humble to the brink of vanity, and so full of theories and explanations that it can leave you spinning. 

As creative generalists their work expresses itself in many ways, occasionally as the explosive crash pollination of a Blue-banded bee wreaking havoc in one dramatic impact, sometimes as the Pied Butcher bird, practicing and honing their message over and over until ready for the intended audience, from time to time as the cicada, crawling from their seventeen year dug-out to add colour and beauty and story and detail to the surfaces of this town, as the mulga ant that studiously raises a buttress to safeguard against sudden inundation, at times as the much dreaded skle-row-leena burring in the sides of petty bureaucrats and governance structures but mostly as the mycelia, the quiet underground connector, carrying messages, tending to soil, the foundation and facilitator for so many others to be.

Dan Murphy

From Beth Sometimes’ Lofty Announcement Speech:

This person is a destination, a significant site on the slow bus tour that is knowing this place.

This years LOFTY winner’s tender and humble relationship with Arrernte custodians has been critical to their output, both making their collaborative work possible, and deeply informing their personal practice. They are keenly familiar with the cyclic and slow nature of consultation and collaboration, and the complexity of enduring custodianship on colonised land. With their collaborators, this artist has pulled off work of immense stature and tacit presence reflective of the altyerre that is attended to via the practice.

This person understands that knowledge is not something accumulated in these terrains but that to be invited into knowing enters one into a complex field of responsibility. This person is accountable in that field as host, learner, teacher and assistant custodian.

2020

Marlene Rubuntja

From Sophie Wallace’s Lofty Announcement Speech:

This is an artist that never says no. Arriving everyday in the art room, dressed so elegantly, with a number of bags containing sculptures in progress and bundles of wool this artist uses her needle and wool like a painter uses a brush and paint. Recycled bush dyed woolen blankets are her canvas which she transforms into whatever she feels needs to be told in that moment, Land Rights, family stories, olden day stories. And sometimes it is just all about the calming process of simply making, the needle moving back and forth, the wool colours transforming the sculpture,  so that she might settle down, find some space and unwind.

With the art making comes the community and the sharing, the laughing and crying, the reaching out and the holding up of others around her as she fights continually for people to have the opportunities they deserve.  Like her father she is both artist and activist. She is also mother, aunty, grandmother wife and friend to many. 

2019

Beth Sometimes

From WTS Chair, Frankie Snowdon’s Lofty Announcement speech:

This year’s recipient has made a huge impact on Central Australia, its people, its artistic evolution and this particular space over the last 10 + years, examining this place and all its complexities this through a prolific, outstanding, and fundamentally moving body of work.

It would be apt to say this person does not have one practice with multiple arms, but rather diverse skills and practices that move alongside and in between each other, making them a consummate creator, producer, advocate, documentor, critic, translator, champion and ally. To this point, a stand out element in this person’s artistic and personal contribution to the arts is their capacity to collaborate, teach, learn and share within varied and various communities, generously holding space for myriad projects and people to blossom with their stewardship and support. 

2018

Suzi Lyon

For her manifold contributions to the arts in Central Australia and beyond, and being both a fierce and gentle warrior in the face of great adversity, this years Lofty goes to Suzi Lyon. 

- Frankie Snowdon

2017

Elliat Rich

Kieran Finnane recounted the evening and words of WTS Chair, Frankie Snowdon, as she announced the 2017 Lofty:

Without naming this year’s winner, it soon became apparent who she was talking about: work in “design, public art and cross-cultural collaborative practices” that is “recognised locally, nationally, internationally” leads straight to Elliat Rich.

Her career “epitomises what you can achieve when you think big and commit with every fibre you have”, said Ms Snowdon. But she equally acknowledged Rich’s “humble and generous nature as a brilliant collaborator, advocate and ally for and to the Central Australian arts scene”.

“[Elliat's work] proves that our geography is not necessarily a boundary but perhaps a loyal and rich supporter, critical voice and necessary contributor.”

Read the article here and see more of Elliat's inspiring work via her website or Elbowrkshp

2016

Doris Kngwarraye Stuart

Doris was honoured at the Saturday night event with special speeches presented by Kieran Finnane, Beth Sometimes and Dan Murphy. 

Doris won the annual ‘Lofty Award’ for her:

integrity, generosity, humour and spirit, for her connection to country, inspiration and enabling, and contribution to many artists, art works and projects, for deepening understanding, contributing to and extending the contemporary cultural conversation in Central Australia and beyond.

- Dan Murphy

Kieran Finnane penned this article with more thoughts and information about her significant contributions: a worthwhile read in understanding the ecology of the arts in Mparntwe and the particular political stance Doris brings to her life work.

2016's trophy was made by Dan Murphy (WTS Chair in 2016), calling it a slightly "bodgie budgie".

2015

Mel Kerl

Melissa Kerl's practice constantly surprises me by how inclusive of the audience it is. To date I've not witnessed a more non-threatening and innovative person who cleverly breaks down participatory barriers with the ever-growing scale of audiences at her showcases

- Aoife Milson

2014

J9 Stanton

2013

Kieran Finnane

Kieran is an accomplished writer and journalist, and has reviewed countless exhibitions in our region providing a consistent and much needed critical analysis.

As Craig San Roque mentions in his nomination of Kieran for the award, “she has, over more than 20 years, consistently written on, commented upon, encouraged and reviewed Central Australian arts events. Her work has been intelligent, culturally informed, critical and constructive, and by its very consistency has provided local artists with a much-needed reflective mirror. Her quiet presence at events and her incisive, often fearless and also compassionate reviews have encouraged many of us, and offered critique of a high standard that we as local artists rarely experience. Her eulogy piece on Pam Lofts stands as a vital part of local history and testimony to Lofty.”

And from the judges Dan Murphy, Stephen Williamson, Leo Ortega and Shrike O’Malley:

Overall it was felt that Kieran had the strongest claim of this year’s nominations. This is due to her direct contribution to Watch This Space through writing many exhibitions held there and inviting people into this community arts space by articulating the philosophy behind a community arts space, giving coverage to emerging as well as established artists, and giving serious meaning to art shown at Watch This Space (and at other venues in Alice Springs) and opening up this dialogue with a broader audience through her articles on line and formerly in printed form.

Her reporting and documentation of cultural events in Alice Springs over a long period has produced a very valuable record of the richness of arts in this town, and through her own arts practice (poetry and prose) she has produced a body of work that is of and about this community.

Kieran has honoured and confirmed Watch This Space as a critical and serious cultural space in this town through her writing. Congratulations to Kieran as the 2013 Lofty Award recipient, and thanks to the people who contributed nominations to this year’s awards and to the other artists considered for this year’s award!

2013's beautiful LOFTY trophy was made by Julie and Steve Vincent.

2012

Dave Nixon

David Nixon has made a significant contribution to Central Australia’s artistic and cultural life over a period of 22 years, by documenting and promoting the stories, events and activities of the people who live here. He has captured the essence of Central Australia’s cultural life and maintains a priceless archive of the history and development of the region’s artistic expression.

2011

Franca Barraclough

Franca has been a prolific artist in the Central Australian and wider arts community for more than 15 years. During this time, she has been deeply involved with WTS where her talents, passion and generosity have greatly contributed to the organisation’s life and development. Her work has not only supported us, but the wider Central Australian community.

The LOFTY award was set up to honour those who really stand out as key contributors to the cultural and artistic life in Central Australia. In 2011, we recognised Franca's work by awarding her the first ever Lofty Award.

The judges recognised Franca's extensive involvement in visual art exhibitions, short plays, performance of all kinds, the annual Cats Meow cabaret, Bite Sized Theatre, the list goes on. Watch This Space was very proud to be able to recognise Franca as such an important arts contributor to Alice Springs.

More about Franca Barraclough