AWARD, The Australasian Writers and Art Directors, is a non-profit, non-political organisation dedicated to raising the standard of creativity across Australia, New Zealand, and the broader Asia–Pacific.
AWARD, The Australasian Writers and Art Directors, is a non-profit, non-political organisation dedicated to raising the standard of creativity across Australia, New Zealand, and the broader Asia–Pacific.
Established in 1980 and powered by Advertising Council Australia (ACA), it serves as the region’s long-standing authority on creative excellence, uniting writers, art directors, designers, filmmakers, strategists, technologists, and emerging talent with a shared purpose: championing and elevating world-class creative thinking.
Mission
Set standards of creative excellence, promote creativity in business, and educate and inspire the next generation of creatives.
Programs
In addition to running a suite of creative education and talent development programs including the iconic AWARD School, AWARD hosts the AWARD Awards, the region's most prestigious creative award show which attract entries across advertising, design, craft, film & entertainment, purpose, innovation, media, strategy, and more.
Each year, it hosts This Way Up - Australia's annual pureplay festival of creativity.
Manifesto from the Chair
"Let’s be clear. AWARD is not a committee, a board or an institution. AWARD is a community. A community of like-minded and passionate individuals galvanised by the sole aim of raising creative standards in all forms of commercial communication. A community of tutors, judges, students, lecturers, winners, sponsors, members, journalists and evangelists. We educate, celebrate and champion creativity and its extraordinary potential. AWARD is as strong, dynamic and powerful as the people who participate in it. AWARD evolves as the community that forms it evolves. Your participation is integral to its success, in fact, it’s nothing without you."
Mandie van der Merwe, AWARD Chair