The recipients of the FAME Mid-Career Awards 2025 have been announced, celebrating the achievements of performing artists and production professionals from the performing arts sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Each of this year’s six recipients will receive a cash prize of $20,000, made possible through the FAME Trust in partnership with The Acorn Foundation.
Dance and theatre artist Lusi Faiva is one of this year’s recipients. A pioneering artist championing disability inclusion and Pasifika representation in Aotearoa’s performing arts. A leader in accessibility, her decades-long career has empowered disabled and neurodivergent artists.
Her latest work, AIGA, blends dance theatre and accessibility, earning acclaim for its emotional impact.
A respected mentor, Lusi has helped reshape Touch Compass into a disability-led organisation.
She is preparing to tour AIGA and develop a mentoring programme for young Pasifika artists with disabilities. With her commitment to advocacy and excellence, Lusi continues to transform the arts landscape, making it more inclusive and representative of diverse voices.
Alongside Lusi the recipients are:
Composer: Salina Fisher
Actor, writer, director: Scotty Cotter (Tainui, Ngāti Kahu).
Performance designer: Owen Iosefa McCarthy
Stage Manager: Bridget Carpenter
Producer and arts advocate: Vanessa Immink (Ngāti Hāua, Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa)
Since their inception, the FAME Mid-Career Awards have recognised 20 practitioners, awarding a total of $330,000 in honour of their mahi.
Established in 2022, the FAME Mid-Career Awards administered by PANNZ (The Performing Arts Network New Zealand) in partnership with The FAME Trust and the Acorn Foundation, recognise and support practitioners across Contemporary Dance, Classical Music, Theatre, Producing, Stage Management, Production, Design, and Technical fields.
