The hardest workers in the theatre industry often get overlooked for the bright lights and headline acts - but it was their turn in the spotlight at the FAME Mid-Career Awards, the final act of the 2025 PANNZ Arts Market.

Supported by the FAME (Fund for Acting and Musical Endeavours) Trust and Acorn Foundation, this recent annual addition to the creative community awards calendar recognises practitioners across Contemporary Dance, Classical Music, Theatre, Producing, Stage Management, Production, Design, and Technical fields.

Since its 2022 inception, the awards have been growing in stature, recieving a recording 91 individual nominations before six were chosen and acknowledged at the Auckland Town Hall.

The honours are split between mid-career performing artist recipients and mid-career production and technical professional recipients, ensuring a broader representation of the theatre community. Each recipient also receives $20,000 each.

As actor, writer and director Scotty Cotter told The Big Idea - "It means I feel seen. I feel heard. That my art and mahi are validated. And that really means a lot."

Cotter (Tainui, Ngāti Kahu) has worked for over two decades helping shape Māori theatre in Aotearoa, working with the likes of Massive Theatre Company (where he works as a mentor for rangatahi) and Tawata Productions, earning a reputation for bold storytelling and authentic performances.

His work challenges Māori representation on stage and is well received - as his sold-out physical theatre piece Neke demonstrated when making waves at the Kia Mau and Kōanga Festivals. 

With upcoming projects include a new play with Lenny James, a Mauri Tau children’s book, and his first feature film, Cotter's already got plans for his $20K boost.

"It means I can just create. I don’t have to juggle ten jobs just to make work—I can focus, breathe, and just be. It’s pretty insane, to be honest."

Another whose work represents their community is fellow recipient Lusi Faiva.

A pioneering dance and theatre artist has long been a champion for disability inclusion and Pasifika representation in Aotearoa’s performing arts. A leader in accessibility, her decades-long career has empowered disabled and neurodivergent artists. 

Faiva told The Big Idea “This recognition significantly impacts my career as an independent performer and artistic leader of a professional disability-led arts organisation (Touch Compass). 

"Reflecting, I have worked with many incredible performers over the years, and have learned so many things about myself and continue to do so. It’s been a good journey so far, and I’m glad to reach a point where I can establish myself in the best position so that I can contribute towards the future of the world."

Like Cotter, she's more than just a talented performer, she gives back as a mentor and works closely with Touch Compass as they develop a mentoring programme for young Pasifika artists with disabilities.

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..

“The money will go towards supporting whatever is needed for my creative process - time, space, access, collaboration."

Jon Tamihere-Kemeys, Executive Director of Touch Compass shares "Lusi Faiva is a force; a powerful example of what happens when disabled creatives are empowered to decide the direction of their own artistic lives."

Composer Salina Fisher is another impressive creative and mentor who has brought her unique world view to audiences beyond her own community.

The youngest-ever recipient of the SOUNZ Contemporary Award in 2016 (winning again in 2017) and a Fulbright scholar, Fisher's works blend contemporary classical techniques with Māori and Japanese influences and has been heard all over the globe. Her music has been performed by the likes of the New York Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, and Auckland Philharmonia, with major commissions including Papatūānuku and Black Wave. 

She told The Big Idea "I feel extremely honoured and grateful to be selected for this award; it’s very meaningful to have my work recognised in this way. 

"This extraordinary level of support will go a long way towards helping me continue on my path. Pursuing my dreams as a composer comes with its challenges, and receiving this support is extremely encouraging, especially at this time." 

Bridget Carpenter's role is backstage for the likes of World of WearableArt and the Royal New Zealand Ballet - but one of Aotearoa’s most respected stage managers is now the one centre stage with her FAME Mid-Career award bow.

"This recognition is really overwhelming, especially when my work usually exists behind the scenes," Carpenter told The Big Idea. "I feel very proud to receive this award. To be recognised by my peers and the arts community as a nominee and worthy recipient is a huge honour. 

"It's affirmation that work I really love doing has a positive impact."

Stop someone in the street and ask them how they'd spend $20,000 and you're likely to hear about a holiday or new car - but Carpenter's response to her sudden windfall will ring true for many in the creative sector.

"The impact of this award is allowing for a moment of reprieve from the hustle of being an Arts contractor. It gives me the opportunity to think about professional development. This gives me a chance to confidently plan ahead, both professionally and personally, without the under score of financial stress that comes hand in hand with contracting."

Joining Carpenter in the production and technical professional category is performance designer Owen Iosefa McCarthy, who has spent more than a decade forging a reputation for using set, video and lighting to accentuate some stunning theatre and dance work across Aotearoa.

With more than 50 productions under his belt, McCarthy is renowned for his technical experimentation and evocative storytelling, illustrated with his AV design for EBKM's Gravity & Grace (EBKM 2024) winning Production of the Year at the Wellington Theatre Awards and a Gold Best Design Award. 

Another dedicated mentor, McCarthy champions emerging talent while expanding his practice into public installations, pushing the boundaries of live performance to create immersive, accessible, and transformative artistic experiences.

Staunch arts advocate Vanessa Immink is always speaking out on others behalf, for the betterment of the creative community. This time, someone's spoken up on her behalf to nominate her for this latest accolade.

Immink (Ngāti Hāua, Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa) is a tour de force -a hugely admired producer and and leader in live performance sector. With a background in musical theatre and arts management, she champions independent artists, creating sustainable creative pathways. 

She told The Big Idea "It’s incredible to be recognised by my colleagues, peers and mentors to receive the inaugural Producer award. I want to acknowledge the remarkable producers across the motu, who are often invisible unless a problem arises, and I’m grateful that Acorn and PANNZ have created this award. 

"Having this new award means we can finally celebrate all the hard work that producers do to make magic happen. The work begins long before anyone sets foot into a rehearsal room. I look forward to celebrating more visibility for producers, arts managers and self producing artists for years to come."

As for the $20,000 addition to her bank account?

"It helps me pay my tax bill. Love that for me."

Immink expands, "This money allows me to finally start creating a work that has infiltrated by brain since 2011. I am really proud of the work I have done to support other artists in the sector realize their creative dreams, but I am beyond excited to finally realise my own. 

"It also allows me some financial freedom to the next steps of my project VOLT. Which is the producer platform I have created to educate emerging live performance producers and self producing artists. I look forward to continuing to support emerging producers and artists in Aotearoa."

This half-dozen delights take the tally of FAME Mid-Career Awards recipients to 20 practitioners, awarding a total of $330,000 since the awards started.

Malia Johnston knows its impact - she was an award winner last year and is an assessor for this year's awards.  

She notes “Receiving the award was incredibly humbling, as it was a recognition from my peers that ignited a bright light of possibility, opening new creative paths in multiple directions. 

"Serving as an assessor on the panel this year revealed the wealth of incredible talent in our country, reminding me just how difficult it is to define excellence when so many artists are deserving of celebration.”

PANNZ Senior Producer Jo Bond adds “We are so grateful to the FAME Trust and Acorn Foundation for their generosity in acknowledging our mid-career artists and their importance to the arts ecology in Aotearoa. These awards often come at a pivotal time in their careers, and we know the impact is significant to their ongoing practice. Personally, it is such an honour to notify the recipients and to hear the excitement, joy and gratitude in their voices.”