Media Release: 18 September 2025
THE LUMINAS: A NEW ERA OF RECOGNITION FOR CULTURALLY DIVERSE LEADERS IN MEDIA, ARTS & CULTURE
Inaugural ceremony to be held in April 2026
Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) and Media Diversity Australia (MDA) are proud to launch The Luminas. This first-of-its-kind national honours program recognises and celebrates the trailblazers transforming Australia’s cultural and media landscapes.
The inaugural ceremony will take place in April 2026, spotlighting the extraordinary contributions of First Nations and culturally diverse creatives and leaders across the arts, screen, and media sectors.
The Luminas, supported with seed funding from the Office for the Arts, will honour outstanding figures across three categories:
- Storyteller Honour – recognising powerful and authentic storytelling.
- Leadership Honour – celebrating visionaries driving change and representation.
- Hall of Fame Honour – acknowledging lifetime achievement and enduring impact.
Each category will recognise two honourees: one from the arts/creative sectors and one from media, ensuring the full breadth of Australia’s diverse creative talent is celebrated.
“Representation matters. Recognition matters. The Luminas is about celebrating the extraordinary contributions of culturally diverse creatives whose stories, leadership and legacies have shaped our national culture,” said Lena Nahlous, CEO and Executive Producer of Diversity Arts Australia.
“It is now more important than ever to recognise the power of stories that reflect who we really are, a nation rich with cultural diversity. The Luminas celebrate our storytellers and, in doing so, encourage us all to be heard,” said Paula Kruger, CEO of Media Diversity Australia.
People working in the arts, screen and media sectors are invited to suggest potential honourees via this public nomination form. Nominations will also be sourced from sector submissions and in-house research conducted by Diversity Arts Australia and Media Diversity Australia.
The Luminas marks the beginning of a new tradition of recognition, visibility and cultural pride. Sponsorship opportunities are available for organisations wishing to support this vital initiative.
For media enquiries, interviews or further information, please contact:
theluminas@diversityarts.org.au.