THE HELPMANN AWARDS - www.helpmannawards.com.au

The Helpmann Awards® for Performing Arts in Australia were established by the Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA), and are the national awards for the Australian live performance industry, in recognition of distinguished artistic achievement and excellence. The Awards were named in honour of, and to commemorate Sir Robert Helpmann's memory and achievements. Esteemed silversmith, Hendrik Forster designed The Helpmann Awards® trophy, and renowned Sydney musician Peter Casey composed The Helpmann Awards® Fanfare, a triumphant fanfare for the Awards.

Objectives of the Awards
The principal objective of the AEIA in establishing the Awards is to nationally and internationally serve and promote the Australian live performance industry by:

• Recognising distinguished artistic achievement and excellence;
• Ensuring the Awards are administered and made with integrity;
• Ensuring the Awards are celebrated by the industry and the Australian community; and
• Ensuring the Awards are the most prestigious awards in the industry and the highlight of each Season

Rules
Click here to download the Helpmann Awards Rules. (PDF File Size 340kb)

Season and Nominations
Six Nominating Panels, with broad industry representation, have been appointed to select nominees against all award categories, from names submitted by producers for consideration. The Season is the period from 1 March and ending 31 May of the following year. In recognition of the great importance of touring to the Australian live performance industry and the national focus of the Helpmann Awards, productions planning to tour may elect to enter the Awards in the season they tour instead of the season they open. The 2006 Season runs from 1 March 2005 to 31 May 2006 (for the comedy sector only, the Season runs from 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2006).

Eligibility for Nomination
Productions of Theatre, Musical Theatre, Opera, Ballet or Dance, Contemporary and Classical Music, Visual or Physical Theatre, Comedy, Special Events, New Works and Children's Presentations are eligible for Nomination for the Awards. The production must be produced by a member of the AEIA. The production must be an Australian or world premiere presented in Australia.

Voting for the Awards
The Voting Collegiate is responsible for casting votes for Eligible Productions nominated by each Nominating Panel and the Industry Awards Panel and submitted to the Voting Collegiate.

A person is eligible to be a member of the Voting Collegiate if he or she is:

• employed or engaged by an AEIA Member:
  
• as Chief Executive, General Manager or his or her nominee;
  
  • as Executive Director, Producer, Artistic Director, an   equivalent position or his or her nominee;
    
  • as a performer;
    
  • as a member of the creative team or equivalent; or
    
  • in a technical capacity or equivalent;
• a member of a Nominating Panel or the Industry Awards Panel;
  
  • a member of the arts media appointed by HAAC; or
    
  • a distinguished member of the industry appointed by HAAC.

The Counting Process
The vote counting system specifically for the Awards, is called 'Average First Past the Post'. This complex process, designed by Dr Belinda Barnes BSc(Hons), PhD and Mr John Maindonald MSc, from the Australian National University, addresses Australia's unique geography, and ensures productions around the country have an equal chance of winning an Award, regardless of population size or length of run.

Announcement of Winners
Winners of the 2006 Helpmann Awards® will be announced and presented Monday 31 July 2006 at the Lyric Theatre, Star City in Sydney.

For more information visit our web-site dedicated to the Helpmann Awards