On December 2, the French Embassy in Australia honored Tony Albert and Elizabeth Cameron Dalman with the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters), one of France’s highest cultural distinctions. Established in 1957, the award is granted to individuals who have contributed significantly to the arts in France and abroad.

Born in 1981, Albert is a prominent First Nations artist working across painting, photography, and mixed media. His practice addresses political, historical, and cultural dimensions of Aboriginal and Australian experience. He was the inaugural recipient of the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain First Nations Curatorial Fellowship for the 2024 Biennale of Sydney and serves as artistic director for the fifth National Indigenous Art Triennial, “After the Rain.” Reflecting on the honor, he noted: “I do not stand here alone. I am surrounded by the spirits, communities, mentors and family who have shaped me. For a First Nations artist to be recognized by France in this way speaks to something greater than personal achievement.”

A leading figure in dance in Australia, Dalman, born in 1934, is a renowned choreographer, teacher, and performer. She established and served as the first artistic director of the Australian Dance Theatre in Adelaide and currently leads the Mirramu Creative Arts Centre and Mirramu Dance Company in New South Wales. Earlier this year, she was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours. 

Joan Yiquan Chen is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.