ARIA Announces The Artisan, Fine Arts and Best Comedy Nominees for 2018

The 2018 ARIA Awards will be launched at this year’s ARIA Nominations event taking place on Thursday, 11th October hosted at The Art Gallery of New South Wales.

This celebration will hand out the first ARIA Awards for 2018 from our impressive ARIA Nominees for the Best Classical Album, Best Jazz Album, Best World Music Album, along with Producer Of The Year, Engineer Of The Year, Best Cover Art and Best Comedy.

Denis Handlin AO, ARIA Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand and President, Asia, said:  “Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees in the Fine Arts, Artisan and Best Comedy Release Awards. ARIA is delighted to present these awards and to recognise the highly talented Australian musicians, artists and artisans across the diversity of the seven award categories.”

The Fine Arts, Artisan and Best Comedy Award categories herald the beginning of the 2018 ARIA Award celebrations, leading into ARIA Week festivities from Sunday 18th November, culminating in the Awards on Wednesday, 28th November at The Star Event Centre, Sydney, that will be broadcast on The Nine Network.

ARIA #1 albums from Gurrumul and Amy Shark, and Ball Park Music’s GOOD MOOD are nominated across all three Artisan Award categories, closely followed by Courtney Barnett, Tash Sultana and Jack River who each received two nominations. The Presets have also been recognised for Best Cover Art.

ARIA is also thrilled to announce Swarovski and Pepsi Max will be returning as this year’s ARIA Red Carpet partners. Also returning for 2018 to celebrate the official ceremony are continuing partners the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, The Nine Network, Telstra and PPCA.

Dan Rosen, ARIA Chief Executive, said: “We are thrilled to be launching the 32nd Annual ARIA Awards celebrations by recognising the incredible nominees for the 2018 Fine Arts, Artisan & Best Comedy Awards.

These accomplished artists and technicians continue to push the boundaries and we are proud to have them represent the Australian music industry both here and around the world.

I also would like to welcome the returning partners for their continual support to Australian music. We look forward to working with them to create a very special ARIAs filled with unforgettable performances and many magic moments.”

Greg Hawkins, Managing Director for The Star, said: “The Star is delighted to continue our partnership with the ARIA Awards as host venue for this highly anticipated celebration of Australia’s leading creative musical talent.

Recognised both nationally and internationally, The ARIA Awards are one of the music industry’s most important and profiled events and we are once again truly excited to welcome this growing pool of Australian music talent to The Star Event Centre. Playing host for the sixth year running, The Star offers some of the very best live performance space in Sydney, along with a range of world-class facilities, accommodation, restaurants and after party venues.” 

Genelle Sharples, Media and Sponsorship Principal at Telstra said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the ARIA Awards again in 2018 to sponsor this year’s ARIA Music Teacher Of The Year Award. It was so rewarding to help ARIA recognise all the wonderful Aussie music teachers who inspire our kids and ultimately award Renee McCarthy from Woodcroft College in South Australia the very first ARIA Music Teacher Of The Year Award in 2017. We are thrilled to be part of the journey all over again.

Our continued partnership with the ARIAs and the ARIA Music Teacher Of The Year award is important to Telstra and we look forward to recognising more teachers from across the country who use their talents to inspire the next generation of Aussie musicians.”

Danny Celoni, CEO, PepsiCo for Australia and New Zealand said:  “Pepsi Max is thrilled to make this the third year of our partnership with the Australian Music Industry. We’ve had an established history with the music industry and artist community globally and Pepsi Max is proud to support Australia’s best musical talent at the biggest night on the music calendar. 2018 is set to be the best one yet and we look forward to continuing Pepsi Max’s journey with music.”

George Ash, PPCA Board Chairman, said: “PPCA is excited to partner the ARIA Awards for an exciting seventh time, recognising this year’s Breakthrough Artist.

It is fantastic for the PPCA to support the career development of Australia’s emerging musicians. Everyone at the PPCA would like to wish all nominees the best of luck, as we look forward to celebrating the winner’s announcement on November 28.”