Last night, over 400 of Sydney’s arts, cultural, and music underground elite came together at the Sydney Opera House to celebrate FBi Radio and Time Out’s inaugural SMAC AWARDS – Sydney’s very own cultural awards to recognise this city’s brilliant, diverse, and energetic cultural community.
Under The Marquee overlooking the harbour, an eclectic gathering of inner city artists, rockers, musicians and performers drank champagne as The Chaser’s Chris Taylor handed awards to those “people who make Sydney the vibrant, exciting cultural capital that Melbourne insists we’re not”
So without further ado the 2008 SMAC AWARD WINNERS are:
Recognising a cultural entrepreneur who’s given the most to Sydney over the past year the SMAC OF THE YEAR Award went to Sydney Festival Director FERGUS LINEHAN, the gentleman behind re-invigorating Sydney’s cultural wave of summer. The SMAC REMIX THE CITY Award was given to BIENNALE at COCKATOO ISLAND for their transformation of a derelict industrial site into a unique, world-class contemporary art showcase. Taking out the SMAC IN YOUR FACE Award was the RAISE THE BAR COLLECTIVE, who through persistent lobbying, ranting, and sweet-talking, have managed to change Sydney’s liquor licensing laws and revolutionise the way we mix our cultural drinks.
Over 25,000 votes were submitted online to select SMAC Music and Art Award winners, showing we’re not only the best looking city in Australia but our beating artistic heart is alive and well!
BEST MUSIC EVENT went to SYDNEY FESTIVAL BECKS BAR/SPIEGELTENT for the nexus of musical heaven they give Sydney’s music loving public each summer; indie darlings DAPPLED CITIES took home BEST MUSIC PERFORMANCE; BEST MUSIC NEWCOMER went to Blue Mountains four-piece CLOUD CONTROL for their perfectly harmonized folky pop; while RECORD OF THE YEAR went to the THE PRESETS who continued their awards onslaught for their release APOCALYPSO.
BEST ARTS EVENT went to experimental art lab and festival UNDERBELLY; KILL PIXIE won BEST VISUAL ARTIST for his delicate and hyper crafted illustrations; while actor, screenwriter, playwright, and director, BRENDAN COWELL took out BEST ACTOR/PERFORMER for kicking Shakespearean butt in his portrayal of Hamlet. And finally, BEST ARTS NEWCOMER went to GREEDY HEN for their beautiful and weird visual narratives that cross all mediums.
FBi Radio and Time Out 2008 SMAC AWARDS were proudly supported by Unwired.
