The Australian Cartoonists' Association (ACA) is the Australian professional cartoonists' organisation and was established on 17 July 1924 as the Society of Australian Black and White Artists. It was the first association of newspaper artists in the world.[1]
It soon became The Black and White Artists Society; and, by 1938, its name had been changed to The Black and White Artists Club.[2] By 1939, it had a sketching division and an etching division.[3]
In 2024, a collection of artworks were put on display in the exhibit "A Century of Satire" at State Library of New South Wales to celebrate 100 years since the Black & White Artists Club began.[4]
The Association's first clubrooms were at 250 George Street, Sydney.[5]
Founding members were Reg Russom, Unk White, Syd Nicholls, Jack Quayle, John Wiseman, Jack Baird, Joe Jonsson, Cyril Samuels, Frank Jessop, Brodie Mack, Mick Paul, Harry J Weston, Jack Waring, Syd Miller, Arthur Mailey, F H Cumberworth, Fred Knowles and Cecil Hartt, who was elected president.[6] [7]
| Term | President[8] |
|---|---|
| 1924–39 | Cecil Hartt |
| 1931–54 | Stan Cross |
| 1955–57 | Jim Russell |
| 1958–64 | Doug Albion (acting for Jim Russell) |
| 1965–73 | Jim Russell |
| 1974 | Doug Albion |
| 1975 | Tony Rafty |
| 1976 | Max Ariev |
| 1977 | Dan Russell |
| 1978 | Jim Swanson |
| 1979 | Ian Cox |
| 1980 | Arthur Hudson |
| Term | President |
|---|---|
| 1981 | Ton Rafty |
| 1982 | Ian Cox |
| 1983 | Max Foley |
| 1984–87 | John Thorby |
| 1988–90 | James Kemsley |
| 1991 | Mark David |
| 1992–93 | Steve Panozzo |
| 1994–96 | Lindsay Foyle |
| 1997–99 | Steve Panozzo |
| 1999–2000 (April) | Pierre de Dassel |
| 2000 | Lindsay Foyle |
| Term | President |
|---|---|
| 2000–03 (May) | Rod Emmerson |
| 2003–06 | James Kemsley |
| 2006–08 | Peter Broelman |
| 2008–10 | Jules Faber |
| 2010–12 | Jason Chatfield |
| 2012–2020 | Jules Faber |
| 2020–present | Cathy Wilcox |
See main article: Stanley Award. The Stanley Awards are issued annually by the Australian Cartoonists' Association and recognise the best of Australian cartoonists and cartooning.
The ACA's ultimate credit to a cartoonist is the Gold Stanley Award (named after Australian cartoonist Stan Cross, who was a longtime president of the ACA).[2]
Previous recipients of the award are:
| Year | Awardee |
|---|---|
| 1985 | Alan Moir |
| 1986 | John Spooner |
| 1987 | Bill Leak |
| 1988 | Bill Leak |
| 1989 | Bill Leak |
| 1990 | Suzanne White |
| 1991 | Bill Leak |
| 1992 | Bill Leak |
| 1993 | Eric Löbbecke |
| 1994 | Bill Leak |
| 1995 | Bill Leak |
| 1996 | Bill Leak |
| 1997 | Brett Lethbridge |
| 1998 | Brett Lethbridge |
| 1999 | Joanne Brooker |
| Year | Awardee |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Sturt Krygsman |
| 2001 | James Kemsley |
| 2002 | David Rowe |
| 2003 | Rolf Heimann |
| 2004 | George Haddon |
| 2005 | Peter Broelman |
| 2006 | Mark Knight |
| 2007 | David Rowe |
| 2008 | David Rowe |
| 2009 | Peter Broelman |
| Year | Awardee |
|---|---|
| 2010 | David Pope |
| 2011 | Anton Emdin |
| 2012 | David Pope |
| 2013 | Anton Emdin |
| 2014 | David Rowe |
| 2015 | David Pope |
The Jim Russell Award, formerly the Silver Stanley Award, (named after Australian cartoonist Jim Russell), given to individuals or organisations who, in the opinion of the ACA Board, has made a significant contribution to Australian cartooning.[9]
Previous recipients of the award are:
| Year | Awardee[10] |
|---|---|
| 1985 | Jim Russell |
| 1986 | The Bulletin |
| 1987 | John Thorby |
| 1988 | Vane Lindesay |
| 1989 | State Library of New South Wales |
| 1990 | James Kemsley |
| 1991 | Dan Russell |
| 1992 | Lindsay Foyle |
| 1993 | John Champion |
| 1994 | Les Dixon |
| 1995 | Cole Buchanan |
| 1996 | Tony Rafty |
| 1997 | L. J. Hooker |
| 1998 | Jeff Hook |
| 1999 | Roger Fletcher |
| Year | Awardee |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Jenny Hughes |
| 2001 | Bruce Petty |
| 2002 | No Award given |
| 2003 | William Ellis Green "Weg" |
| 2004 | Monty Wedd |
| 2005 | Allan Salisbury "Sols" |
| 2006 | Paul Rigby |
| 2007 | Michael Atchison |
| 2008 | Jim Bridges |
| 2009 | Norman Hetherington "Heth" |
| Year | Awardee | |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Steve Panozzo | |
| 2011 | Rolf Heimann | |
| 2012 | Talking Pictures – Insiders (ABC TV) | |
| 2013 | Russ Radcliffe | |
| 2014 | Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) | |
| 2015 | Stan Cross’ original cartoon, “For gorsake, stop laughing: this is serious | ” |