State Cultural Treasures Awards

The concept of the State Living Treasures originated in Japan in the post-World War II period, when the title became the highest honour attainable by a senior traditional artist. Since then, the Living Treasures awards programs have been adopted worldwide to honour influential elders of the artistic community.

The Western Australian State Cultural Treasures Awards (formerly State Living Treasures Awards) were inaugurated in 1998 to honour senior Western Australian artists who have made a lifelong contribution to their art form and their community. Further rounds of artists were honoured with the awards in 2004, 2015 and 2022.

2024 State Cultural Treasures Awards

The State Cultural Treasures Awards acknowledge outstanding lifelong contributions of senior Western Australian artists to their art form and the community.

The awards acknowledge the ability of artists to engage, move, involve and entertain audiences, honouring their skill, imagination and originality. 

Eligibility criteria

• A senior artist recommended to be over 60 years of age and;
• Creative artist, arts educator or community artist (not arts administrator, curator or technician) and;
• Spent a significant part of their career or life working within or creating work related to Western Australia.

Selection criteria

• Is highly regarded and skilled in their field and;
• Has demonstration of commitment and contribution to the WA arts sector through their creative work and;
• Contributes/ed to mentoring and supporting their peers and/or community including to other artists or emerging artists.

 Please note the following information:

• A nominator must have the nominees consent to be entered into the Awards prior to submitting the nomination 
• self-nominations are not accepted
• A nominee cannot be an organisation, group of people or a couple.
• A nominee cannot be deceased, as Awards will not be granted posthumously.