2025 has been a huge year for the state’s music community, and the SA Music Awards once again provided a great opportunity to showcase the depth of its talent, diversity, and strength.
As the 10th Anniversary of Adelaide’s UNESCO City of Music designation, the awards allowed us to reflect and acknowledge and celebrate the people and culture that underpin this prestigious recognition.
In honour of this milestone, the Minister for Arts, the Hon Andrea Michaels, presented a special UNESCO Adelaide City of Music – 10th Anniversary Award.
There were many great nominees behind the scenes, and the final decision was a challenging one. However, the award, along with a prize of $5000 was deservingly awarded to multi-instrumentalist, producer, and singer-songwriter, Western Arrernte man, Rob Edwards, to enable him to attend an artist residency in Mexico in 2026.
ACOM also presented its annual Best International Collaboration Award to Mark Ferguson. Mark is Head of Jazz at the Elder Conservatorium at the University of Adelaide, and the award acknowledges his work facilitating the UNESCO International Jazz Relay as well as composing the piece of music that was performed by artists from more than 20 cities around the world this year.
UNESCO Adelaide City of Music – 10th Anniversary Award
Rob Edwards has been selected to attend an artist residency in Mexico by the Glasgow arts organisation, Routes to Roots.
UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow introduced ACOM to the Glasgow-based arts organisation, Routes to Roots, and their artist residency initiative in Oaxaca, Mexico, which will take place in January 2026. Artists from several other UNESCO Creative Cities Network member cities will also participate.
Routes to Roots is very similar to Adelaide’s Nexus Arts, championing intercultural collaboration. ACOM has facilitated a connection between the two organisations and know that exciting collaborations will come of this introduction.
Subsequently, Routes to Roots asked for recommendations for First Nations artists to participate in their residency. ACOM put together a list of potential artists with input from WOMAD, CASM, and our own networks. Routes to Roots then selected Rob Edwards to participate.
Soulful, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and singer-songwriter, Adelaide-based, Western Arrernte man Rob Edwards draws inspiration from his Indigenous heritage and his family’s journey as part of the Stolen Generation.
ACOM also facilitated Rob’s participation in the 2025 International Indigenous Music Summit in Toronto, Canada. Rob’s energy and positivity saw him leverage his involvement in the Summit into a career-changing experience that has seen him develop strong connections and new prospects with the Canadian First Nations music industry.
The $5,000 prize money Rob received through the UNESCO Adelaide City of Music – 10th Anniversary Award will enable him to travel and participate in the Routes to Roots artist residency. Rob has proven to be a fantastic music ambassador for South Australia and will undoubtedly create new opportunities out of the experience.
This represents an excellent opportunity to celebrate and support a First Nations artist and culture, as well as promote the designation, the value, and the relationships ACOM and the Creative Cities Network represent.
Going forward, the Routes to Roots initiative will move to different locations around the world. ACOM will continue to help enable Adelaide’s involvement and build the connection with Nexus.
Best International Collaboration Award
Mark Ferguson was selected for his contribution to the UNESCO International Jazz Day Relay initiative.
Over the past three years, Mark has facilitated Adelaide’s involvement to the UNESCO International Jazz Day Relay (IJDR). The IJDR is a collaborative global music project where artists from various UNESCO Cities of Music perform and record different versions of the same composition, which is then compiled into a single video. It highlights jazz music and creativity across different countries and cultures, with each year’s relay focusing on a new theme or piece of music
Mark’s contributions have directly inspired cities across the network to not only get involved but to improve their own contributions, through their performance, video submissions, and in bringing together different artists rather than only using existing bands to perform the year’s selected piece.
The Network has also been inspired by Mark’s engagement and use of students in the initiative, a point that was raised at this year’s UNESCO annual conference.
The IJDR has expanded in scope, attracting cities beyond just the Cities of Music to include other UNESCO Creative Cities. The success of the initiative has also drawn praised by Herbie Hancock, founder and ambassador of the UNESCO International Jazz Day.
Importantly, in recognition of his contribution, Mark was asked to write the composition for this year’s relay. His piece was performed by bands from more than 20 cities around the world creating the largest relay yet and making it a record year. Mark and his band were also included in this year’s Adelaide Festival Centre, UNESCO Jazz Day event.
This was a huge recognition for not only Mark but for Adelaide as a City of Music and reflects our level of engagement in the network. Mark has also been a strong partner in developing ACOM’s connection with the Adelaide Jazz scene and in building our relationship with important Cities of Music (Kansas City, New Orleans, and Montreux).
This award is a great way to publicly recognise and thank Mark for his valuable and ongoing contribution to the state’s music culture and to the designation’s profile both here and around the world.
