The John Truscott Prizes
The John Truscott Prizes celebrate the discovery and support of creative talent, with a focus on practitioners involved in the creation of memorable public spaces, public events and performances.
The program is supported by principal sponsor, The Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation which supports and strengthens communities through its many valuable programs, including enhancing the cultural life of all Victorians through the arts.
Prizes are managed in partnership with a number of Victoria’s leading cultural organisations. Including: Arts Centre Melbourne, Tait Performing Arts/Tait Memorial Trust, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Victoria Opera & The University of Melbourne, St Martins Youth Centre and RISING.
2025–2026
Katherine Horseman, Exhibition & Spatial Designer
This prize celebrates John Truscott’s spectacular interior design for the Art Centre, a project that involved celebrated artists and artisans from around the country to realise his ambitious plans.
It honours our strong association with the Arts Centre Melbourne through the inaugural exhibition at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA), DIVA.
Katherine, an experienced Exhibition& Spatial Designer, will create the exhibition design for DIVA. It is shaping up to be an exceptional and memorable space, a nod to John Truscott, and a celebration of the power and creativity of the diva.
Harry Gill, Set & Costume Designer
This prize is a collaboration with Victorian Opera and the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) at the University of Melbourne to design sets and costumes for a Victorian Opera production in their 2026 season.
This prize is awarded to a recent (the last five years) student from the Design and Production courses at the VCA in celebration of the life and work of John Truscott (1936–1993).
We are excited for Harry to work on the Set and Costume Design for the up coming Reg Livermore’s Ned Kelly: The Musical. This performance will be on the 28th of March 2026 at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat.
Isabella Hincksman, Mezzo Soprano
Awarded in partnership with the Tait Performing Arts Association (TPAA)to a Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) graduate student.
Isabella a talented Mezzo Soprano and graduate of VCASS, was accepted into the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, USA and commenced her studies in early September 2025. It’s with great pride that this prize will assist her future career development and studies at Curtis.
The achievements of the five Tait brothers are an intrinsic part of the history of theatres and performing arts in Australia and New Zealand. Isla Baring, daughter of Sir Frank and Lady Viola Tait established the Tait Memorial Trust (UK) in their honour and continues to support new and emerging talent from her base in London through the Melbourne-based Tait Performing Arts Association.
Tariro Mavondo, Multi-Disciplinary Artist
Awarded in collaboration with St Martins to Tariro for her role as the Lead Artist of EMBOLDEN, St Martins Emerging Artist Pathways Program.
Through hands-on practice under the guidance of Tariro a cherished alumna of St Martins, the EMBOLDEN participants formed a brand-new ensemble, to devise and create an original theatre work together, 'The weather app, on my phone, at a party’. This work premiered at Melbourne Fringe 2025.
The Melbourne Little Theatre (now St Martins Youth Arts Centre) was where John Truscott truly learned his trade. His immense talent and the breathtaking scope and ingenuity of what he created there was vital to the Little Theatre’s many awards and successes. With the John Truscott Prize awarded to Tariro for EMBOLDEN, it’s like John came back to where he started, and where many others keep that flame burning bright.
Dave Jones, Animator & Designer
Awarded in partnership with the Ballarat International Foto Biennale for the design and production of Mumu Mirri — an illuminated moth installation developed in close collaboration with acclaimed Wadawurrung artist and knowledge holder Dr Deanne Gilson. Together, they brought to life a work that celebrates the Bogong Moth — an enduring symbol of sustenance, survival, and the deep interconnectedness of all living things.
This world premiere featured at the 2025 Ballarat International Foto Biennale on the facade of the National Centre for Photography.
In acknowledgment of the birthplace of Hugh Williamson whose legacy, through The Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation, has garnered the respect and appreciation of so many people and organisations involved in cultural initiatives throughout Victoria.
2024–2025
Ishan Vivekanantham, Set & Costume Designer
This prize is part of a new, five-year collaboration with the Victorian Opera and the University of Melbourne, supporting graduates of the Victorian College of the Arts.
Ishan an emerging designer was awarded the opportunity for Set, Costume& Projection Design on Victorian Opera production of The Lyrebird's Voice, in their 2025 season.
Ishan amplified the colours and textures of the Australian bush to create a vivid and imaginative landscape for children (and grown-ups) in this dream-like production.
It marks a relationship between John and the (then)Victorian State Opera from the late 1970s when John returned to Melbourne from Hollywood to design the new Victorian State Opera’s much acclaimed Idomeneo and The Pearl Fishers.
2023–2024
Recipients:
Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO with Byron J Scullin and Thomas Supple for The Rivers Sing 2024
Genevieve Lacey and Erkki Veltheim
for Consort of the Moon 2023
Amber McCartney
for Tiny Infinite Deaths 2023
The Foundation welcomes this special relationship with RISING in this city, on its stages and in the imaginative theatres of public spaces, marking a welcome return of John Truscott’s name to be associated with Melbourne’s major arts festival.
Consort of the Moon
