The awards are presented across 11 different categories – encompassing festivals, shows and individual achievement – with 108 nominations received in 2020 compared with 113 last year.
Most of the nominated works and events took place before the COVID-19 shutdown began, with the judging period for the awards covering July 2019 to June 2020.
“The Ruby Awards honour the best of South Australia’s arts and culture,” said Premier Steven Marshall, in congratulating the finalists.
“In a year of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that we continue to celebrate the events, activities and projects that make South Australia great.”
Holden Street Theatre’s Grounded, starring Martha Lott, has been shortlisted for best work within a festival.
A number of nominees are shortlisted in more than one category, including Patch Theatre (for its Adelaide Festival show The Lighthouse), Holden Street Theatres (for outstanding contribution by an organisation or group, and for its Fringe show Grounded), the Australian String Quartet (for outstanding contribution by an organisation or group and its interactive experience Project Ludwig), the 2019 SALA Festival, and the Art Gallery of SA (for the 2019 Tarnanthi Festival and the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art).
Patch Theatre artistic director Geoff Cobham says there is a strong feeling of camaraderie among South Australian artists and arts organisations, and the Ruby Awards ceremony – on December 16 – will offer an opportunity to get together and celebrate the vibrant sector after a difficult year.
Patch’s show The Lighthouse has been shortlisted for the best work within a festival award and best work, event or project for young people.
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Cobham says around 4000 people saw the interactive light and sound show during its sold-out Adelaide Festival season at the Queens Theatre.
“We had babies through to a 91-year-old through… it’s a new frontier for us, branching out into installation work that connects with all ages so the conversations about our shows can ripple out through the family.”
The Lighthouse is now set to tour Australia over the next few years, with negotiations underway for an international tour. Patch will also present a new interactive work at the Art Gallery of SA in 2021.
Although the arts sector has struggled this year, Cobham says many people have used the time off stage to create exciting new projects.
“Even though COVID has put the handbrake on, it’s looking really rosy for the future.”
The winners of the 2020 Ruby Awards will be announced on December 16 at a ceremony at the Art Gallery of SA that will also be livestreamed.
The full 2020 shortlist:
Best festival
- WOMADelaide 2020 – The WOMADelaide Foundation
- Tarnanthi 2019 – Art Gallery of South Australia
- SALA Festival 2019 – South Australian Living Artists Inc
Best work or event outside a festival
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- Nothing Remains Unchanged – Ross McHenry
- Contact – Kiah Gossner
- A View From The Bridge – State Theatre Company
Best work or event within a festival
- The Lighthouse – Patch Theatre
- Music for 18 Musicians – Soundstream
- The 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Monster Theatres– Art Gallery of South Australia
- Grounded – Holden Street Theatres
Best community or regional event or project
- Lullaby Project Australia – Connecting the Dots in Music
- SALA Festival 2019 – South Australian Living Artists Inc
- Centralised – South Australian Film Corporation
Best work, event or project for young people
- The Hunting – Closer Productions
- The Lighthouse – Patch Theatre
- Project Ludwig – Australian String Quartet
Made in Adelaide
- Where Song Began – Bowerbird Collective
- Beep – Windmill Theatre Company
- Baba Yaga – Windmill Theatre Company
- The Sisters of Invention – Tutti Arts Inc
Outstanding contribution by an organisation or group
- Australian String Quartet
- Brink Productions
- Holden Street Theatres
- Slingsby
Those shortlisted for the Premier’s Award For Lifetime Achievement, the Frank Ford Memorial Young Achiever Award, the Stevie Gadlibarti Goldsmith Memorial Award (outstanding achievement or contribution by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander individual or a South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-focused organisation) and the Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Award (individual contribution to community arts and cultural development) include:
- Jianna Georgiou
- Jesse Budel
- Serena Gunter
- Gaelle Mellis
- Annabelle Collett
- Alirio Zavarce
- Scott Hicks and Kerry Heysen AM
- Helen Flinter-Leach
- Judy Potter
- Carl Crossin
- Tapaya Edwards
- Lavene Ngatokorua