Bangarra Dance Theatre: Venice Biennale Golden Lion

Fine words from the Minister for the Arts. Perhaps he should consider a career post politics as a writer, with such wonderful words and his contribution this morning. As an author myself, I’ll try and do my best, but I don’t think I can match that poetic speech that the minister’s just delivered.

Australians are indeed known for punching above their weight on the world stage in the arts. We’ve seen it time and again across the different subsectors of the arts, including our Australian actors like Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, for example, who are household names, and many, many artists across all the different disciplines within the arts.

But now we can add another extraordinary achievement on the global stage—an achievement that every Australian can indeed be proud of. The internationally acclaimed Bangarra Dance Theatre has been awarded the prestigious Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at the Venice Biennale, one of the highest honours in the world of arts and culture. This is indeed an historic achievement and an historic moment.

Bangarra has become not only the first Australian dance company to receive this honour but the first company ever to be awarded the Golden Lion in this category. It’s an award traditionally reserved for individual choreographers and dancers.

For more than three decades, Bangarra has stood as a pillar of Australian cultural expression, bringing together contemporary performance with the oldest continuous cultures on earth. Through powerful choreography, music and storytelling, Bangarra has shared the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and now that contribution has been recognised at the highest international level.

The Golden Lion is awarded to those who have reshaped the language of dance, those who have expanded its boundaries and brought new meaning to the art form. That is precisely what Bangarra has done, and under the leadership of artistic director Frances Rings, the company continues to innovate while remaining deeply grounded in culture, country and community. Their work is not only artistically exceptional but also profoundly meaningful. It carries with it tens of thousands of years of storytelling, knowledge and tradition, shared through movement in a way that resonates with audiences across cultures and indeed continents.

This recognition is also a reminder of the strength of Australian culture on the world stage. At a time when Australian artists are increasingly being recognised internationally, Bangarra’s success demonstrates what is possible when talent, discipline and cultural integrity come together. It’s a moment, indeed, of national pride, but it’s a moment to reflect, because achievements like this do not happen by accident. They are built over decades, through commitment, resilience—and lots of sweat and lots of tears, no doubt, by the Bangarra Dance Theatre—and the support of institutions and communities who believe in the value of the arts.

Bangarra was founded in 1989 and has spent over 35 years developing a unique and powerful artistic voice, one that blends ancient knowledge with contemporary expression. This award recognises that lifetime of work. It recognises the generation of dancers, choreographers and cultural leaders who have contributed to Bangarra’s journey, and it recognises the importance of ensuring these stories continue to be told, both here in Australia and around the world.

Bangarra’s achievement is excellence of the highest order. It shows that when we support our cultural institutions, we invest not only in the arts but in Australia’s story.

To everyone at Bangarra Dance Theatre: congratulations to the dancers, the creatives, the cultural leaders. Thank you for the work that you do. To all Australians: this is a moment to celebrate because this achievement belongs to all of us. It’s a reminder that our stories and your stories matter, that our shared culture matters and that, when those stories are delivered with authenticity and pride, the world indeed does listen.